New South Wales faces extreme bushfire risk due to heat

New South Wales (NSW) is experiencing an intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching 39.3 degrees Celsius in Sydney. This is about 12 degrees above average, prompting urgent bushfire warnings and total fire bans across the state. In Victoria, a bushfire has destroyed a home near Melbourne, with around 200 firefighters responding. The Bureau of Meteorology warns that hot conditions and gusty winds will create extreme fire danger in the greater Sydney area. Authorities are increasing efforts to contain fires as the high-risk bushfire season nears its end. A cooling shift is expected late Sunday, but it may bring gusty winds and thunderstorms, complicating firefighting efforts.