Australian scorcher fans fears of bushfires

The outline of the sun shimmers in a heat haze at sunrise off the coast of Sydney as record-breaking temperatures of up to 42C were forecast for the city. Picture / Reuters

By GREG ANSLEY Australia correspondent

CANBERRA - Australia was given a brutal warning of the summer ahead as temperatures soared to more than 40C across much of New South Wales yesterday, sparking new fears of bushfires and arson, hitting commuter trains and prompting medical and water warnings.

Although baking winds did not reach the extremes expected, a state tinged with green by recent rains was browned in the space of a day as temperatures late in the afternoon remained as high as 43C in the west and in the high 30s in Sydney.

The Rural Fire Service, fearing a repeat of the disastrous fires that swept the state for the past three years, declared a fire ban across New South Wales and placed brigades, volunteers and aircraft on standby.

"This is the worst weather possible in terms of fire because it means any fires that start are more likely to spread in difficult conditions to become major bushfires," said Rural Fire chief Phil Koperberg.

By early last night no major outbreaks had been reported, but concern remains high as temperatures in the mid-30s forecast for much of the state could be worsened by thunderstorms and lightning.

Fears of arson have increased with the temperatures, with almost one in five of the major bushfires that have swept New South Wales in the past five years believed to have been deliberately lit.

A state Government briefing paper said arsonists were responsible for some of the Christmas 2001 bushfires that destroyed 109 homes and 754,000ha of bushland, and killed 7000 head of livestock.

Nerves were also stretched yesterday in Canberra, where winds gusting to more than 50km/h helped push temperatures into the high 30s.

In January last year fires in Canberra killed four people, destroyed more than 500 homes, incinerated almost all forests in the Australian Capital Territory and left a disaster bill of more than A$300 million.

Yesterday cities and towns across New South Wales prepared for the blast of red-hot air that swept across the continent from northern Western Australia with warnings to stay out of the sun, to send children to school with sunscreen, caps and lots of fluids, and to take great care in rivers and in the surf.

Parents were also warned not to leave children in cars, with temperatures in closed vehicles able to soar to 40C higher than outside.

This week the Defence Force confirmed it was investigating the death of a soldier from suspected heat stroke.

In Sydney temperatures at 3pm yesterday were still hovering in the high 30s across much of the city.

Commuter trains were delayed as CityRail reduced speeds because of the possibility of rails buckling.