Around the World: Australia

Wildfires blaze in 3 states

Wildfires were burning in three Australian states yesterday, forcing the temporary evacuation of people from about 100 homes threatened by one blaze in the northeast.

Firefighters in the northeast faced strong winds fanning the erratic fire near Mount Archer National Park on the outskirts of Rockhampton in central Queensland. But the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service said the threat from the fire, which destroyed one unoccupied house overnight, had eased. In New South Wales, firefighters were battling several blazes on the east coast and in the state's north. In Western Australia state, a bushfire was burning near the northern resort town of Broome but had been contained.