Bush fires reach Sydney

Residents in Sydney's suburbs fear for their homes

Australian fire-fighters will battle through the night to keep back bush fires which have now broken through into a northern suburb of Sydney.

Mother Nature is throwing her very worst at us

John Winter
fire official

They will try to create breaks to halt the fires burning in parkland in the residential area of Pennant Hills.

It is feared that flames fanned by gusts of wind of up to 80 kilometres per hour could now reach the suburbs of Wahroonga and West Pymble.

Over the past week, more than 100 fires have broken out in the state of New South Wales, destroying dozens of houses and a large area of bushland.

Giant helicopters have been dropping water on threatened areas

Firefighters on Tuesday pumped water from swimming pools and nearby lakes in a battle to beat back the flames.

Flames as high as 20 metres (60 feet) produced towering clouds of thick black smoke close to people's homes.

Firefighters say the situation is critical but they are hoping the wind will drop by Wednesday morning.

Click here for a map of the fires threatening Sydney

Thousands of people have been evacuated from many towns and villages since the fires began on Christmas Day.

Thousands of native animals have been caught in the flames

"Mother Nature is throwing her very worst at us," said John Winter of the New South Wales Rural Fire Board.

The Australian authorities believe many of the blazes were deliberately lit, and a special task force is investigating. Eight people have been charged with arson since Christmas Day.

The police say emergency crews are being hindered by hundreds of sightseers and are warning them to stay away.

Lightning appeared to have started 20 new fires on Monday, adding to the 100-plus already burning.

Thick smoke has been hanging over Sydney for days

For days, thick smoke has hung over the city's famous landmarks, including the opera house and bridge. The beaches are blackened by ash and burnt leaves.

Many people, particularly children and the elderly, have been suffering breathing difficulties.

Pollution levels are the worst on record, forcing airlines to divert to other cities.

Elsewhere in New South Wales, a fire near Kurrajong Heights in the lower Blue Mountains is seriously threatening to burst out of control.

In the state of Queensland, a large swathe of forest is ablaze on the southern outskirts of Canberra, Australia's capital.

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