BBC article, 21 October 2013 Last updated at 10:23 GMT current info & pics, plus general article about Bushfires in Australia

Australia is often hit by bushfires during summer months from December to February. Causes can be lightning, arson, power-line arcing, dropped cigarettes or controlled burns that go wrong.

On 7 February 2009 a prolonged heat-wave and dry spell led to the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria. The fires became Australia's worst natural disaster, killing 173 people and burning thousands of houses.

On 16 February 1983 almost 200 fires caused devastation across parts of Victoria and South Australia. Seventy-five people died in what became known as the Ash Wednesday fires.

In January 2013, parts of NSW and Tasmania were hit by fires as temperatures soared to record levels, with average national temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. One person died in Tasmania and several hundred buildings were destroyed.
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Bushfire conditions expected to worsen tomorrow Live blog, updated 30 mins ago -
Crews are racing to gain the upper hand on several blazes burning across New South Wales, amid grim warnings tomorrow's weather may be more dangerous than first thought.

The NSW Rural Fire Service says tomorrow's conditions across fire-hit areas of the Blue Mountains are forecast to be "about as bad as it gets", with temperatures in the high 30s, humidity at 10 per cent and wind gusts of up to 100 kph.

"There is a very real potential for more loss of homes and loss of life," RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned this afternoon.

Earlier today light showers on the state's major fire fronts lifted the spirits of firefighters conducting aggressive back-burning operations, but did not slow the advance of the major fires.

Firefighters have deliberately joined the State Mine and Mount Victoria bushfires along the Darling Causeway to help crews manage the situation.

We even had one or 2 tiny showers here in the CBD which dampened the pavements. The people I saw carrying umbrellas were hopeful. I went out between the 'showers' & only ended up with one drop of rain on my shirt.

According to the Bureau of Met site the wider metropolitan area received between 0.0 & 1.4 mm in the past 24 hours. Parts of Blue Mountains did not register any rain in their gauges, Lithgow received 2mm.

Wind gusts up to 70km per hour expected in the mountains tomorrow.
Combination of elevated temps, mid to high 30s + low humidity + winds = danger. Authorities say to evacuate early if you are leaving.

A very emotional caller to the radio just saw 20 fire trucks from South Australia pass his place on their way further up the mountains.

Another said firies knocked on doors telling everyone to fill their recycling & garbage bins with water & leave them on the street so firies can use them if needed, so now his street is full of bins & boxes labelled 'water'. They were also advised to fill buckets, pans & anything that holds water & leave them in all rooms to fight small spot fires. Caller is also discussing how he decides what to take when evacuating which he will do during the night. How do you sort out 50+ years of belongings? How much can fit in 2 cars? What is more important that your life?

Next caller said her parents lost their holiday house in Mount Irvine on Thursday night - she said they wasted time deciding what to take before she could get them out of the house & away to safety.

More interstate firefighters are heading to the fires.

sandra