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Australia on alert for more fires Winds stoke Victoria fire fears
(about 5 hours later)
The Victorian authorities have mounted their biggest ever operation on what they fear could be one of the worst wildfires days of the past century. Strong winds are ripping through the Australian state of Victoria, where four major bushfires are still burning.
Four major blazes are still alight and gale-force winds are whipping across the state. Three thousand firefighters are battling the blazes and 2,000 more are on stand-by in case the gusts open up new fire fronts.
Almost 400 schools have been closed and millions of text messages have been sent out warning of the dangers. Almost 400 schools have been closed in the state and millions of text messages sent out warning of the fire danger.
Some 5,000 fire-fighters are tackling the blazes. Last month, more than 200 people were killed by bushfires. Last month, more than 200 people were killed in southern Australia by fast-moving bushfires.
Many Victorians awoke to rain and cooler temperatures than were forecast. Cleared lines
Many Victorians awoke to rain and cooler temperatures than were forecast, reports the BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney.
But state authorities have warned against complacency, because of the threat of gale-force winds and because the rain did not fall in fire-affected areas.But state authorities have warned against complacency, because of the threat of gale-force winds and because the rain did not fall in fire-affected areas.
Strong gusts, and the danger of falling tree branches, have already forced fire-fighters to pull out of bush land to the north of Melbourne. Strong gusts, and the danger of falling tree branches, have already forced firefighters to pull out of bush land to the north of Melbourne.
The fear is that a sudden change in wind direction could open up new fire fronts. The fire-fighters are working to control four large blazes that have been burning for three weeks.
Four major blazes are still alight - and some 5,000 fire-fighters have been brought in to contain them. Containment lines - cleared areas up to 60m (200ft) across - are currently holding the fires in check.
As part of the biggest fire prevention operation that Victoria has ever mounted, almost 400 schools have been closed in the state. Forecaster Evan Morgan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that strong winds would continue into the night.
Some five million text messages have been sent out - the first time this kind of technology has been used to warn Australians of the dangers. Bushfires have been burning in Victoria for a month now, sparked by high temperatures and a prolonged drought.
Police are also investigating whether some of the blazes were man-made; one man has been arrested.