Australia's bush fires are posing a new threat as flames 60 feet high head towards Sydney. The fires are close to suburbs within a mile of the city's central area.
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It is the deepest a blaze has penetrated the city since wildfires ringed it nine days ago. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports police fear the fast-spreading fire will move into other parkland.
Temperatures have soared to over 38?C (100?F) and dry winds are fanning the flames.
Dozens of people have been evacuated in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, as well as from several villages to the north and south. A large swathe of forest is also afire on the southern outskirts of Canberra.
White smoke is billowing high over Sydney as fire rages along a tinder-dry parkland corridor that stretches through the suburbs of Pennant Hills and North Epping, 11 miles northwest of its centre.
A helicopter has been water bombing fast-moving flames that are moving southeast toward the suburb of South Turramurra. People are using buckets of water and garden hoses to wet their threatened homes.
Police have closed a nearby highway because of dense smoke. Officials say it is unsafe to evacuate the area and are ordering people to stay indoors and stay calm.
AP