Bushfires burning out of control in two Australian states destroyed homes and forced hundreds of holidaymakers to evacuate a major alpine resort on Wednesday as police helicopters searched for mountain campers. The southern state of Victoria said it was facing one of the worst emergencies in its fire-ravaged history as blazes in the southeastern Australian alps crossed borders, forcing evacuations from the village of Thredbo in New South Wales, a winter ski resort 150 km (93 miles) south of the nation's capital, Canberra.

As temperatures soared to near 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), Victorian authorities continued to fight fires which destroyed eight homes overnight and threatened a dozen more communities. "It just sends shivers up your spine, because we all saw how bad yesterday was," said Victorian Premier Steve Bracks. "I think it will go down as one of our worst bushfire episodes in Victoria ever, and that's a big statement. It is going to go on and it is going to get worse."

Bushfires, most sparked by lightning, have blackened more than 1.1 million hectares (4,000 square miles) of Victoria since late November. Fires cut power on Tuesday to Melbourne, the Victorian capital, and one blaze swept into the hamlet of Toombullup, levelling at least seven homes. Another house was lost in rugged mountains west of Melbourne, Australia's second largest city with a population of about 4 million.

"It was terrifying. The fire swept up from the ground and into the eaves," said Toombullup resident David Heffer. Authorities said the ferocity of the blaze had been whipped up by extremely hot, dry conditions and strong winds.

Worse to come
Environment Department spokesman Pat Groenhout told local media that worse lay ahead. "We've had four new fires started as a consequence of a band of lightning which moved through the state overnight," he said." Across the border in New South Wales hundreds of summer holidaymakers evacuated the Thredbo alpine village as a fire blazed about 10 km (six miles) from town.

"At this stage there's not any panic. It's quite orderly and calm. People are leaving the town," Thredbo Resort spokeswoman Susie Diver told local media. Police aircraft were conducting sweeps to look for campers or bushwalkers in the Kosciuszko National Park, parts of which were closed due to fires on Wednesday. About 200 residents and staff will stay in the resort overnight. "There is a chance it could come under threat tonight," said New South Wales Rural Fire Service spokesman Cameron Wade.

Australia sought help on Monday from US firefighters, who will join volunteers from Canada and New Zealand helping battle firestorms fuelled by higher temperatures and global warming. Australia faces extreme fire danger this summer because of severe drought. Bushfires, a regular feature of the summer, have killed more than 250 people over the past 40 years. (Additional reporting by Michael Perry)
(Por Rob Taylor, Planet Ark, 18/01/2007)