Sydney celebrates despite bush fires

Firefighters evacuated about 1,000 people from a mountain town near Sydney today as fires continued to rage across Australia's most populous state.

Firefighters evacuated about 1,000 people from a mountain town near Sydney today as fires continued to rage across Australia's most populous state.

An estimated one million revellers thronged Sydney harbour for a New Year fireworks celebration - billed as one of the world's largest pyrotechnic displays. The haze from the fires cleared in time to leave the display unhindered, although domestic firework displays were banned amid fears of further fires.

The storms, the first to reach Sydney since the crisis started on Christmas Eve, brought only light rainfall to some areas. They also brought strong winds that fanned flames and there were fears that lightning had started new blazes.

A new outbreak threatened homes in the small town of Hilltop, 50 miles southwest of Sydney, forcing many residents from their homes that overlook tinder-dry bush land.

"There are some thunderstorms around," said Kevin O'Loughlin, director of the New South Wales bureau of meteorology. "But there's no widespread rain, unfortunately."

About 150 homes have been destroyed and thousands of acres of forest and farmland blackened by the fires, which have come within 12 miles of the centre of Sydney. Officials said more than half of the 100 blazes across New South Wales state have been started by arsonists.

Fires also raged near Australia's capital, Canberra. The latest flared today at Mount Painter, just north of the city.