Firefighters contained some of the 80 fires raging around Sydney today and took advantage of favourable weather to build defences against a massive fire front threatening the city's north.
The fires have razed more than 250,000 acres since Wednesday, destroyed 41 homes and killed two people. Since yesterday, three smaller blazes have joined a 15 mile-long front threatening satellite villages dotted throughout heavy bush land on the city's northern fringe.
"It's a crunch day tomorrow," New South Wales premier Mr Bob Carr told reporters earlier today, dashing hopes that the city would have two days to prepare for a return of the hot, windy weather that has whipped up huge fires over the past week.
"High temperatures, and strong winds from the northwest (are) returning. We've only got today to set up for that instead of having two days to set up," Carr said.
Despite today's cooler, calmer conditions, a new fire emerged in Sydney's north, and soon flames up to 20 metres high were threatening homes. But the blaze was held back by water-bombing helicopters and firefighters who blasted it with water cannon shooting 3,000 litres a minute.
"It is physically impossible for us to contain all the fires," Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg said.
Some bushland would have to be left to burn out. "We can expect spasmodic outbreaks tomorrow." he said.
PA