Australian record-breaking heat wave ignites parched land

SYDNEY - Firefighters battled 25 blazes across the Australian state of Victoria on Sunday as a record-breaking heat wave delivered the hottest start to March on record for the southern third of the country.

The continent is prone to deadly blazes thanks to its combination of remote terrain, high summer temperatures and flammable eucalyptus bush.

A severe four-day heat wave has brought fire weather across the southern parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania over the weekend.