Houses destroyed in Australia wildfires

Two houses were destroyed by wildfires in drought-stricken south-east Australia today on the region's hottest December day in 53 years.

More than 3,500 firefighters battled blazes that have already incinerated more than 220,000 hectares (550,000 acres) of alpine forest and farmland in Victoria state.

State Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon told reporters late on Sunday the wildfire threat remained extreme.

“We may lose lives,” she said.

The state Country Fire Authority said two houses had been lost in the villages of Rose River and Stonyford and more were threatened. No one was injured.

Smoke shrouded the state capital, Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, where the temperature reached 42.1 degrees Celsius (107.8 Fahrenheit). It matched the city’s December record reached on December 20, 1953.

Victoria is enduring its worst drought on record.