Photos: Wildfires Rage in Australia, killing one person
October 18, 2013
Firefighters control flames during hazard reduction in Bilpin 75 kilometers (46 miles) from Sydney in Australia, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Scores of Australians evacuated their homes in mountains west of Sydney on Wednesday as intensifying winds fanned wildfires and grounded the helicopters that were fighting them. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( Australia Wildfires )
Firefighters mop up after a firestorm swept through a property in Bilpin, 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Sydney, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( APTOPIX Australia Wildfires )
A burning tree falls during a mop-up by firefighters after a firestorm swept through a property in Bilpin, 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Sydney, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( Australia Wildfires )
A firefighter mops up after a firestorm swept through a property in Bilpin, 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Sydney, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( APTOPIX Australia Wildfires )
Firefighters control flames during hazard reduction in Bilpin 75 kilometers (46 miles) from Sydney in Australia, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( Australia Wildfires )
Volunteer firefighters watch for the fires in the Mt York fire area near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. As the crisis entered its seventh day, at least 65 fires were raging across the state of New South Wales with 18 of them uncontained and warnings again issued for people to leave their homes or be extra vigilant. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 524005389 )
A volunteer firefighter struggles through the strong winds as he surveys the damage in the Mt York fire area near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 524004988 )
In this photo provided by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, smoke rises from a wildfire near Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/NSW Rural Fire Service) ( Australia Wildfires )
Firefighters are pictured along a neighborhood street following a bush fire near Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. Firefighters in Australia battled hot, dry winds and soaring temperatures as new blazes began breaking out in a week-long bushfire disaster that shows no signs of easing. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 524007151 )
A woman takes pictures of a car burnt out by recent bush fires in Springwood in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. Firefighters in Australia battled hot, dry winds and soaring temperatures as new blazes began breaking out in a week-long bushfire disaster that shows no signs of easing. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 524007033 )
A man rides past a car burnt out by recent bush fires in Springwood in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. Firefighters in Australia battled hot, dry winds and soaring temperatures as new blazes began breaking out in a week-long bushfire disaster that shows no signs of easing. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 524006986 )
Firefighters are pictured along a neighborhood street following a bush fire near Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. Firefighters in Australia battled hot, dry winds and soaring temperatures as new blazes began breaking out in a week-long bushfire disaster that shows no signs of easing. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 524007098 )
A firefighter is pictured next to a truck along a neighborhood street following a bush fire near Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. Firefighters in Australia battled hot, dry winds and soaring temperatures as new blazes began breaking out in a week-long bushfire disaster that shows no signs of easing. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 524007837 )
A helicopter drops water to douse bushfires along the Linksview Road near Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 23, 2013. Firefighters in Australia battled hot, dry winds and soaring temperatures on October 23 as new blazes began breaking out in a week-long bushfire disaster that shows no signs of easing. AFP PHOTO/ Saeed KHANSAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 524012480 )
A firetruck drives past a roadside sign that says "Thieves about!, white dual cab + toolbox on the back, Shoot 2 injure" outside Bilpin, 75 kilometers (47 miles) west of Sydney in Australia, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Authorities have warned that hotter weather and increased winds are expected and are preparing for the conditions to worsen. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( Australia Wildfires )
Local residents watch the containment fires from the balcony on his house at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. Firefighters on October 22 deliberately merged two major blazes in southeastern Australia in a desperate battle to manage the advancing infernos as weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523978058 )
A firefighter hoses down the flames in a backburn at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523974323 )
Policewoman Tegan Mobbs looks at the remains of her home in Yellow Rock in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013, after it was destroyed in a firestorm which tore through the area. The granite slabs that were once a kitchen bench are still warm five days and a chimney stack and fireplace are all that remain upright in the ruins of what was once a five-bedroom home on a picturesque five-acre bush block in Yellow Rock, west of Sydney. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523979032 )
A firefighter hoses a tree as they work to contain fires from a resident's backyard at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523974058 )
Adam Schweinsberg tries to clean the swimming pool of their family home in Sunny Ridge Drive in Winmalee 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Sydney in Australia, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 after a wildfire swept through the street burning his home and several other on Oct 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( Australia Wildfires )
Jennifer Schweinsberg leans on her son David's shoulder as she walks in the backyard of her burnt house at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. Jennifer visited her gutted house for the first time after spending four days in the hospital due to chest pain after seeing her burning house; she lost her property in the bushfire where she spend 40 years of her life with her two children. AFP PHOTO/ Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 523980248 )
A view of a gutted house at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. F AFP PHOTO/ Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 523980710 )
A burnt trailer sits in the back yard of destroyed homes in Sunny Ridge Drive in Winmalee 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Sydney in Australia, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 after a wildfire swept through the street burning several homes on Oct 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( Australia Wildfires )
Jennifer Schweinsberg and her son David take photos of the ruins of their family home in Sunny Ridge Drive in Winmalee 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Sydney in Australia, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 after a wildfire swept through the street burning their home and several others on Oct. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) ( APTOPIX Australia Wildfires )
Local resident Paul Chester watches the containment fires from the balcony on his house at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523974161 )
Jennifer Schweinsberg with her son David looks at her gutted house in Winmalee in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. Jennifer visited her gutted house for the first time after spending four days in the hospital due to chest pain after seeing her burning house; she lost her property in the bushfire where she spend 40 years of her life with her two children. AFP PHOTO/ Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 523980284 )
A firefighter hoses down the flames in a backburn at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523974528 )
Jennifer Schweinsberg walks with her son David in the backyard of her burnt house at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013. Jennifer visited her gutted house for the first time after spending four days in the hospital due to chest pain after seeing her burning house; she lost her property in the bushfire where she spend 40 years of her life with her two children. AFP PHOTO/ Saeed KHAN/AFP/Getty Images ( 523980259 )
A New South Wales Rural Fire Service volunteer puts out a fire in the town of Bell, Australia, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013. Firefighters battling some of the most destructive wildfires to ever strike Australia's most populous state were focusing on a major blaze Sunday. Authorities warned that high temperatures and winds were likely to maintain heightened fire danger for days. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) ( Australia Wildfires )
A New South Wales Rural Fire Service volunteer puts out a spot fire in the town of Bell, Australia, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/AAP Image/Paul Miller) ( Australia Wildfires )
The sun glows a deep orange color as the light is filtered through smoke haze from wildfires drift over Sydney, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013. Authorities warned that high temperatures and winds were likely to maintain heightened fire danger for days. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) ( Australia Wildfires )
Firefighters work on putting in containment lines to help control a wildfire near the township of Bell, Australia, Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/AAP Image, Dan Himbrechts) ( Australia Wildfires )
This October 21, 2013 NASA satellite image shows smoke(C-bluish) from wildfires burning near Sydney, Australia. Firefighters were racing to tame an enormous blaze in southeastern Australia Monday with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. Crews have been battling fires that flared in high winds and searing heat across the state of New South Wales last week with more than 200 homes so far destroyed and many others damaged. While dozens of blazes have been contained, 58 were still alight and 14 of them were out of control, enveloping Sydney in a thick white smoke haze that prompted warnings for people to stay indoors and avoid exercise. The main concern Monday was near the town of Lithgow west of Sydney where a huge fire that has already burned nearly 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres) was threatening the communities of Bilpin, Bell, Clarence and Dargan. AFP PHOTO / NASA / HO/AFP/Getty Images ( 523957130 )
Melissa White assists her sister Christie Daschke at her home destroyed by bushfire on October 21, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. One man has died and hundreds of properties have been destroyed in bush fires that are devastating the Blue Mountains and Central Coast regions of New South Wales. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185451842 )
Sue Dunlop sits in the front yard of her home of 41 years which was destroyed by bushfire on October 21, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185451867 )
A bus destroyed by bushfire at the Dunlop's property as seen on October 21, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185451919 )
A firefighter lights a back burn near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze, with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. C AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523949764 )
A young man stands in front of a family home business destroyed by bushfire as seen on October 21, 2013 in Yellow Rock, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185466941 )
A home and car destroyed by bushfire as seen on October 21, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185451968 )
Burnt out cars sit in front of a destroyed house in Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523950055 )
A firefighter monitors a back burn near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze, with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523949970 )
A home destroyed by bushfire as seen on October 21, 2013 in Yellow Rock, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185466437 )
A firefighter monitors a back burn near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze, with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523949812 )
A tree stump smolders after a bushfire went through Yellow Rock as seen on October 21, 2013, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185466792 )
Firefighters take a break after back burning near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze, with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523950015 )
A firefighter monitors a back burn near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze, with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523949800 )
Lyndon Dunlop inspects the remains of his grandparent's home of 41 years destroyed by bushfire on October 21, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185466889 )
Burnt out cars sit in front of a destroyed house at Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523950082 )
A burnt out house sits amongst blackened trees in Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523950149 )
Firefighters monitor a back burn near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, as volunteer fire brigades race to tame an enormous blaze, with officials warning it could merge with others to create a "mega-fire" if weather conditions worsen. AFP PHOTO/William WEST/AFP/Getty Images ( 523949973 )
In this photo provided by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, smoke rises from a fire near Lithgow, west of Sydney, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013. Nearly a hundred wildfires are burning across Australia's New South Wales state, more than a dozen of which are out of control, as unseasonably hot temperatures and strong winds fanned flames across the parched landscape. (AP Photo/New South Wales Rural Fire Service) ( Australia Wildfires )
A helicopter collects water from a golf course dam at the Winmalee Country Club on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185189011 )
A home destroyed by bush fire as seen on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185169657 )
Members of the Rogers family inspect the damage to their destroyed home on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185169918 )
A home destroyed by bush fire as seen on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185169923 )
Amy Hubbard (R) and her father Darren inspect their house destroyed by bush fires in Winmalee in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. Residents faced scenes of devastation on October 18 after bush fires ravaged communities and destroyed "hundreds" of homes in southeastern Australia with dozens of blazes still burning out of control. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523865935 )
Lyndal Rogers stands in her childhood home destroyed by fire on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185169925 )
Noel Willis inspects his home destroyed by fire on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185171954 )
Leanne Brown and her mother Rosemary Booth inspect the remains of her home following severe bush fires on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185171675 )
In this photo provided by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service the remains of a structure are in a crumpled pile after a wildfire destroyed the building, at an unknown location in Australia, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013. Nearly a hundred wildfires are burning across Australia's New South Wales state, more than a dozen of which are out of control, as unseasonably hot temperatures and strong winds fanned flames across the parched landscape. (AP Photo/New South Wales Rural Fire Service,) ( Australia Wildfires )
Leanne Brown inspects the remains of her home following severe bush fires on October 18, 2013 in Winmalee, Australia. One man has died and dozens of properties have been destroyed in bush fires that are devastating the Blue Mountains and Central Coast regions of New South Wales. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) ( 185169645 )
A burnt out boat (C) sits in front of a house destroyed by bush fires in Winmalee in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523865095 )
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite acquired this image of the fires around Sydney, Australia at 2:50 p.m. (3:50 UTC) on October 17. Fires that MODIS detected are outlined in red. In addition to the threat posed by the fires, the image shows that smoke pollution was a problem in populated coastal communities. The densest plume of smoke hangs directly over Sydney, though the brighter white streak is probably a cloud.The largest of the fires shown here is the State Mine fire, burning in the Blue Mountains near the Lithgow area. The fire has burned more than 20,000 hectares and has damaged an unknown number of properties, said the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.To the southeast is the dangerous Linksview Road fire, which was burning near the community of Springwood. Thousands of people have been evacuated because of this fire and the State Mine fire, and all impacted communities have received emergency warnings. Between the two fires, hundreds of homes may have been destroyed, reported ABC News. The third large fire in the image is the Hall Road fire, Balmoral Village. Despite its size, it has caused little damage and is nearly under control. It may be a few days before the other fires are under control. Weather conditions are expected to improve, but the fire danger will remain high for the next couple of days. AFP PHOTO / NASA / JEFF SCHMALTZ /AFP/Getty Images ( 523883005 )
A burnt out car (C) sits at the front of a house destroyed by bush fires in Winmalee in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523865922 )
A burnt out car sits in front of a house destroyed by bush fires in Winmalee in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523866461 )
A man (C) walks near houses destroyed by bush fires at Winmalee in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523874109 )
A car lies under bricks at the front of a house destroyed by bush fires at Winmalee in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523873973 )
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L) receives a bush fire briefing at Winmalee Fire Station in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523873975 )
A couple look at a house burnt out by bush fires in Winmalee in Sydney's Blue Mountains on October 18, 2013. TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD/AFP/Getty Images ( 523875614 )
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