FIREFIGHTERS have controlled dozens of blazes in three states, but heatwave forecasts have them still on high alert.Lightning strikes are believed to have started several fires early yesterday morning, including two large blazes in Victoria and another in South Australia.
Last night, 28 fires were still burning in Victoria, while 24 were being monitored in NSW. Almost 100 blazes were attended by fire crews in South Australia yesterday.
None of the fires was out of control and no property was seriously threatened.
In Victoria, the two major blazes were ignited by lightning in overnight storms.
Residents in Kamarooka East, central Victoria, were advised yesterday morning to decide whether to defend their properties or leave them as a 70ha blaze approached. But the fire was soon contained
A spokesman for the state Department of Sustainability and Environment said residents were still on high alert for embers and spot fires.
More than 450ha of scrub was burnt close to Digby, near the Victoria-South Australia border, before the fire was brought under control late yesterday.
A 6000ha fire was extinguished last night in the Pilliga forest, near Narrabri in northwest NSW, after it had flared again on Tuesday evening.
Of the 24 fires burning across NSW, only three were thought to have been caused by lightning, meaning the others were lit, accidentally or deliberately, by people, Rural Fire Service spokesman Cameron Wade said.
"It is a matter now of waiting to see what the weather does. making sure new fires are quickly brought under control and that burning fires don't break containment lines," Mr Wade said.
The weather bureau said the warm to hot conditions would continue in most parts of the country until at least Sunday.