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Firefighters Worry About Wildfires Approaching Sydney

Reuters

   SYDNEY - Firefighters battled to contain nearly 150 fires burning in
   New South Wales state Friday as strong winds fanned the flames and
   again shrouded Sydney, Australia's biggest city, in hazardous smoke.

   Bushfires have killed at least four people and destroyed more than 680
   homes since the start of November. Fires are still burning in New South
   Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland states.

   While nearly 150 blazes were burning across Australia's east coast, New
   South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said
   authorities were particularly concerned about eight fires now at
   emergency levels around Sydney, the state capital where about 5 million
   people live.

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