A 19-year-old has been sentenced to two years jail for the manslaughter of a mother of three who was burned to death in her south Auckland home.

Former All Black Murray Mexted said last night he was devastated after his Hawke's Bay bach was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

Almost a year after the Black Saturday bushfires devastated Victoria, two teenage boys have been charged with lighting the Bendigo blaze.

Australia is cooling down after another day of deadly heat with temperatures in three states soaring into the 40s, including record highs in Melbourne.

Vast tracts of South Australia are preparing for another baking day of catastrophic fire risk after yesterday's 40C-plus temperatures.

A student at a top private school has been charged with arson after a fire that damaged two classrooms.

Suspicion that arsonists may have been behind a series of spot fires near Rockhampton in central Queensland, lit while firefighters were battling a "terrifying" wildfire, has fuelled community anger.