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World

Man killed, houses destroyed as wildfires rage across southern Australia

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • Australia Wildfires
    Image 1 of 3

    In this photo provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service, a fire burns near Cessnock, Australia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. Firefighters are battling scores of wildfires in southeastern Australia as hot, dry and windy conditions are combining to raise the threat. (AP Photo/NSW Rural Fire Service, Kerry Lawrence) EDITORIAL USE ONLY (The Associated Press)

  • fc87f5c5-Australia Wildfires
    Image 2 of 3

    In this photo provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service a fire burns near Harden, Australia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. Firefighters are battling scores of wildfires in southeastern Australia as hot, dry and windy conditions are combining to raise the threat. (AP Photo/NSW Rural Fire Service, Kerry Lawrence) EDITORIAL USE ONLY (The Associated Press)

  • Australia Weather
    Image 3 of 3

    People gather on Bondi Beach and in the water in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, as temperatures soar to over 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). High temperatures are contributing to severe conditions for wildfires burning in Australia's eastern states. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) (The Associated Press)

SYDNEY – Wildfires raging across southern Australia have killed one man and destroyed several homes.

Police say the body of a man was found Friday in a burned-out car near the small town of Seaton, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) east of Melbourne in Victoria state.

The man was the first person confirmed killed in the hundreds of fires that have been raging across the continent since the Australian summer began

A 61-year-old firefighter also was found dead on Sunday a few kilometers (miles) from a backburning operation in the island state of Tasmania. Officials have not yet determined how he died.

Wildfires are common throughout Australia in the summer, although record-high temperatures and dry conditions in many areas have added to the ferocity of some of the blazes.