WILDFIRES broke out in forestland around Sydney as high temperatures and gusting winds fanned more than 100 blazes in eastern Australia, officials said yesterday.

Wildfires broke out in forestland around Sydney as high temperatures and gusting winds fanned more than 100 blazes in eastern Australia, officials said today.

Up to 10 homes and businesses were reportedly destroyed by a wildfire south-west of Sydney today as strong winds and dry conditions fed bush blazes across the region.

More than 1,500 people were evacuated from their homes as a massive blaze threatened three coastal villages south of Sydney today.

Weary firefighters sang and danced today after heavy rain doused many bush fires that had burned out of control across Australia’s most populous state for two weeks.

Helicopters dumped water and firefighters filled buckets from backyard swimming pools in a desperate battle to save homes from a wildfire that raged through Sydney’s suburbs today.

Firefighters battling about 100 bush blazes that have destroyed homes, led to mass evacuations in Australia’s largest state and threatened the continent’s biggest city were today counting on a break in the weather to help contain the infernos.