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Australia Wildfires Merge into Inferno, but Fairer Weather Forecast

Associated Press

   BURRAGATE, Australia -- Two wildfires merged to form a massive inferno
   in southeast Australia Saturday, near where a man suffered serious
   burns protecting a home during a night of treacherous conditions during
   the nation's unprecedented fire crisis.

   Authorities were assessing the damage after firefighters battled flames
   fanned by strong winds through the night and lightning strikes sparked
   new blazes in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia's most populous
   states. Conditions were milder Saturday and forecast to remain
   relatively benign for the next week.

   "In the scheme of things, we did OK last night," Victorian Emergency
   Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.

   New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told
   reporters that officials were "extremely relieved" the fires were not
   been more destructive overnight.

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