Wildfire-ravaged areas of Australia get holiday relief

Areas of Australia that have been ravd by dely wildfires experienced temporary relief on Wednesday, but oppressive conditions are expected to return this weekend. About 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over past few months, with nine people killed and more than 950 homes destroyed. New South Wales, country’s most populous state, has received brunt of dam, with around 850 homes razed in state.

Parts of New South Wales, including Sydney, experienced cool and damp conditions on Christmas Day, but more than 70 fires continued to burn across state. New South Wales has been in a seven-day state of emergency, which was to expire on Wednesday night. About 2,000 firefighters and 400 firetrucks battled blazes in more favourable conditions, but high temperatures are set to return. Sydney is forecast to hit 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) on Sunday, while city's western suburbs could reach 41 C (106 F).

Fire danger ratings remained very high in rthwestern New South Wales and were between high and moderate for rest of state. In his annual Christmas mess, Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to families of two firefighters — Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36 — who died last week battling blazes southwest of Sydney.  wildfire crisis forced Morrison to cut short his much-criticized family vacation in Hawaii. He returned to Australia on Saturday night.

“To Andrew and Geoffrey’s parents, we kw this is going to be a tough Christmas for you, first one without both those two amazing men,” he said. “I want to thank all those who serve our nation, serving as volunteers fighting those fires as we speak,” Morrison ded. Meanwhile, about 200 firefighters continued to battle a wildfire Wednesday in elaide Hills, which is currently at “watch and act” level issued by South Australian Country Fire Service. South Australia state, which last week h 86 homes destroyed after wildfires flared in catastrophic conditions, is bracing for a return of extreme temperatures, with elaide, state capital, expected to reach 41 C (106 F) on Saturday.