Fire danger extreme in Australia

Maybe their fellows in the northern part of the country could send them some of their excess water?

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Crews battled to contain dozens of wildfires across southeastern Australia on Saturday as temperatures soared to record levels and officials warned conditions were perfect for a deadly inferno.

At least 40 fires were blazing in New South Wales state, and more burned in Victoria and South Australia.

Most were in parks and bush land away from residential areas.

Forecasters said a heat wave that has stewed millions of people in the southeast in the past two weeks would peak at the weekend with temperatures of up to 117 F.

Hot, dry winds would also blow across the region, creating conditions very similar to those that caused the 1983 wildfire tragedy known as Ash Wednesday that killed 75 people.