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| Australia fire fear shuts schools | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| More than 200 schools have been closed in south-eastern Australia as the government warned of an intensified fire risk ahead of the weekend. | More than 200 schools have been closed in south-eastern Australia as the government warned of an intensified fire risk ahead of the weekend. |
| A lack of rain and a predicted change in wind has made conditions the most dangerous in recent weeks. | A lack of rain and a predicted change in wind has made conditions the most dangerous in recent weeks. |
| Some people have already chosen to leave their homes. | Some people have already chosen to leave their homes. |
| More than 3,000 firefighters are still fighting major blazes following the 7 February firestorm that killed 210 people and left thousands homeless. | More than 3,000 firefighters are still fighting major blazes following the 7 February firestorm that killed 210 people and left thousands homeless. |
| Temperatures are predicted to rise towards 40C (104F), accompanied by high winds and low humidity. | Temperatures are predicted to rise towards 40C (104F), accompanied by high winds and low humidity. |
| 'Leave now' | 'Leave now' |
| Volunteer firefighter David Spooner, who lost his wife and son in the 7 February inferno, urged anyone in fire zones to get out early. | Volunteer firefighter David Spooner, who lost his wife and son in the 7 February inferno, urged anyone in fire zones to get out early. |
| "After our experience, I'd consider leaving right now, particularly if you live in an area where there is only one road in and out of the place," Mr Spooner told local radio. | "After our experience, I'd consider leaving right now, particularly if you live in an area where there is only one road in and out of the place," Mr Spooner told local radio. |
| "In a normal bushfire year you do stand a chance but with the conditions now, with all the dry foliage and undergrowth and what not, I'd go, I'd just go. I wouldn't hang around," he said. | "In a normal bushfire year you do stand a chance but with the conditions now, with all the dry foliage and undergrowth and what not, I'd go, I'd just go. I wouldn't hang around," he said. |
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| Bushfires continue to rage in south-eastern Australia | |
| The state of Victoria was put on a high fire alert and dozens of fires continue to burn there. | The state of Victoria was put on a high fire alert and dozens of fires continue to burn there. |
| "We have an extremely dry fuel load, and therefore extreme fire danger," Victoria's state emergency services commissioner Bruce Esplin told reporters. | "We have an extremely dry fuel load, and therefore extreme fire danger," Victoria's state emergency services commissioner Bruce Esplin told reporters. |
| He said people in areas near the fires needed to decide early whether to evacuate their homes, or stay and defend their properties, adding it was too late to leave once the flames were in sight.Many of those killed 20 days ago died in their cars as they attempted to outrun the fires. | |
| The country's biggest-ever arson investigation is continuing into the causes of some of the fires. | The country's biggest-ever arson investigation is continuing into the causes of some of the fires. |
| One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case. | One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case. |