AS bushfires tear through a million hectares of Australia's east coast - authorities have warned the worst may be still to come.
In one of the nation's worst-ever bushfire threats, more than 140 fires were burning across the state of New South Wales (NSW) and south east Queensland, on Tuesday with the country's environment department warning they were filling the skies with smoke pollution of “hazardous” proportions in some areas.
In Queensland there were over 60 active fires, and conditions are expected to worsen tomorrow (Wednesday) with strong winds and temperatures in the mid-30s.
The focus for fire fighters in the state has been on preparing for tomorrow (Wednesday) Three people died in out-of-control bushfires at the weekend, two of them apparently trying to flee fast-moving fires in cars.
At least 170 houses are estimated to have been razed in fires but no further lives were lost on Tuesday.
New South Wales has declared a state of emergency as parts of the state face a "catastrophic" fire danger, which is the highest level of warning.
Shane Fitzsimmons, the commissioner of the NSW rural fire services said yesterday that a wind change was turning fire fronts sideways and creating a "dead man zone".
He said the forecast for severe weather on Friday meant "we simply aren't going to get the upper hand on all of these fires".
Existing fires are continuing to grow rapidly while new ones emerge, with authorities fearing some could continue to rage for months.
"It's going to be a long, difficult fire season," he said. And we have the worst of our conditions typically ahead of us as we come into the months of summer."
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Authorities are now warning the state's residents not to underestimate the damaging effects of smoke as air quality worsens.
They have predicted "catastrophic" conditions yesterday amid fears a southerly wind could cause the flames to change direction.
The latest air quality index rating has recorded 221 micrograms of particulates per cubic metre in Sydney’s east, while the lower Hunter’s figure of 306 was the worst in the state.
Crews are battling a front spanning over 600 miles along the north coast of the state, with several blazes "exceeding 100,000 hectares alone", officials said.
Dust has also contributed to poor air quality in Sydney, Newcastle and the central coast ahead of a southern change expected to hit on Tuesday evening, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The NSW Ambulance commissioner, Dominic Morgan, said the smoke was causing “slightly above-average demand” on services, with almost 100 asthma or breathing-related calls since Tuesday morning.
Kenneth Turnbull, a vice president of the Turnbull Clan Association who lives in the south east Queensland rural setting of Tamborine Mountain, high up in the hinterland behind the Gold Coast, said he has never about so worried about bush fires n Mr Turnbull, whose father was born in Glasgow, said: "This week has seen a state of emergency declared for Queensland in over 42 communities. Ours is one of these and of concern.
"Over the last week we have witnessed the worst fires we have seen near the borders of NSW and us and it’s still Spring! We can expect hot weather in summer, but this is unprecedented.
"Smoke haze has been the heaviest we have ever known. Yesterday morning we awoke to a very thick smoke haze around our area. From the fires across the border in NSW.
"Like many of us on the Mountain, we have been preparing our things to evacuate if necessary, but so far I think we are safe. I have never been so concerned about the situation we have at present and I have been near fires before.
"The fire chiefs are also saying that they have never seen anything like it. Farmers and many others make the same comments.
"Large swathes of blackened scrub confront many areas."
Mr Turnbull added: "Many homes and property have been destroyed and we have been informed that it’s about to get worse. In New South Wales fire storms have caused devastation and some deaths. "Some flames have been seen up to 30 metres high. Hard to imagine, but true."
Mr Turnbull took this picture of the smoke from where he lives.
He said that on Tuesday morning they awoke to near clear skies but were informed this would be short lived.
"Gusty winds are expected on Tuesday night and Wednesday which will fan these spot fires and the existing uncontrolled fires again. We are hoping that they don’t head this way on the Mountain.
"Firefighters in the thousands are fighting to control them and doing a magnificent job."
In Geneva, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the fires were affecting around six million in New South Wales and southeast Queensland.
“Apart from the immediate physical threat…when authorities issue a message of catastrophic fire danger, the message there is basically, 'Get out, get away,’ " Clare Nullis, spokesman for the WMO said.
Experts had compared Tuesday's forecast to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, when 173 people died.
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