Bush fires claim four lives

HUNDREDS of people began sifting through the charred remains of their homes on the outskirts of Australia's capital yesterday after wildfires swept through the region, killing four people and destroying at least 388 homes.

The fires, which hit the Canberra area on Saturday, forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes. At least 240 people, including some who used garden hoses and buckets to protect their property, were treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

"I have been to a lot of bushfire scenes in Australia ... but this is by far the worst," Prime Minister John Howard said.