Melbourne forest fire, so what about the residents there?

Persistent high temperature and dry hot air make southeast Australia face the threat of serious forest fires. On the 7th, at least 40 mountain fires broke out in New South Wales, with the burned area exceeding 1000 hectares. At present, the fire has caused at least 14 deaths.

In the face of fierce fire, the Australian rescue department used planes to throw "water bombs" to put out the fire, and a large number of firefighters were on standby at any time. Australian police suspected that several mountain fires in Hunter, New South Wales and Lane Cove National Park in Sydney were suspected of arson and have been involved in the investigation.

Fierce mountain fire

Fires broke out in several forest parks and jungles in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia on the 7th. A mountain fire occurred near Windham Ridge in southeastern New South Wales, covering an area of over 1 100 hectares, and it is still spreading. A large amount of smoke from the fire drifted to Sydney, Australia's largest city.

Ribel Talbert, a spokeswoman for the Mountain Fire Rescue Department in New South Wales, said on the 7th that the fire was spreading rapidly, and the state had issued a mountain fire warning and dispatched planes to throw "water bombs" to put out the fire.

Shane fitzsimmons, head of the rescue department, said that thousands of firefighters used high-pressure water guns to put out the fire that day. After all-out fighting, many mountain fires have been controlled in the fire isolation zone. Tens of thousands of firefighters, planes and helicopters used to throw "water bombs" are on standby to prevent the fire from spreading.

It's summer in Australia, and its southeast is being hit by the once-in-a-century heat wave. High temperature and dry hot air make this area face a serious threat of mountain fire. The Australian meteorological department predicts that the temperature in southeastern Australia will reach 47 degrees Celsius in the last two days, and the temperature in Melbourne on the 7 th will reach 46.4 degrees Celsius, a record high.

A spokesman for Victoria Mountain Fire Rescue Department told Reuters that they had received reports that residents' houses were burnt down. "The weather is very dry. We are worried that hot air will add fuel to the fire, "he said.

Early prevention

In the face of heat waves and mountain fires, relevant departments in Australia are taking a series of measures to remind people to take preventive measures as soon as possible.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on the 7th that the city government of Sydney has advised parents to suspend their children's outdoor sports. Some nursing homes are busy storing ice cubes, fans, oxygen bottles and small generators. Hospital ambulances are on call all day. Cynthia Payne, a rescuer, said: "We will supply more ice water to ensure that residents take correct heatstroke prevention measures."

Some communities in Australia posted mountain fire threat warnings to remind residents to be vigilant. According to the Australian energy department, all equipment maintenance has been suspended to ensure the normal operation of the generator because the electricity consumption is expected to hit a new high in Australia in summer on the 8 th. The Australian Railway Department also said that if the high temperature continues, speed limit measures will be taken for trains. In South Australia, the national parks of the lofty mountain and the Lauriere Peninsula have been closed after receiving the mountain fire warning.

Suspected arson

Ribel Talbert, a spokeswoman for the New South Wales Mountain Fire Rescue Department, said that the three mountain fires that occurred on the 6th may have been arson, and the police had rushed to the scene to investigate.

The state police also said in a statement that there were traces of arson in the mountain fire in Lane Cove National Park in Sydney. "Investigators believe that arson may have been deliberately set." The mountain fire destroyed a large area of forest in Lenkov National Park and endangered the houses of the surrounding residents.

Investigators told Reuters that about half of Australian forest fires were caused by arson.