Wildfires

Wildfires - California

Colby fire above Glendora burns homes, spews smoke over L.A. Basin.

The fast-moving wildfire in the hills above Glendora burned at least 1,700 acres of withered brush and five homes Thursday, and sent a smoky pall over much of the Los Angeles Basin. Weather officials had been warning about the fire danger for months, capped by a January that had the windy, nosebleed feel of October. The native chaparral that burns so easily in normal circumstances was parched and ready to combust.

The fire sent smoke and ash south and west toward the Pacific Ocean. People as far away as Huntington Beach and Santa Monica smelled the wood smoke and saw their shadows cast in an eerie red light. Commuters on the 10 Freeway reported seeing the flames from as far away as West Covina, with cars caked in dust and ash 30 miles from the fire.

Winds were gusting to 30 mph Thursday morning and were projected to climb to 40 mph by Thursday night.

Wildfires - South Australia

A massive 41,000-hectare bushfire in Victoria's Grampians has caused significant concern for firefighters by creating its own weather system.

The fire has caused a 12-kilometre convection column that has created thunderstorms and lightning.

ABC weather expert Graham Creed says a pyrocumulus cloud in the Grampians was triggered by heat and intense updrafts, and could result in damaging winds as well as potentially large hail.

Officials confirmed a woman died in the Grampians fire whilst at least two homes were destroyed in South Australia's Eden Valley north-east of Adelaide.

Firefighters had to battle another day of stifling conditions and while a cool change is predicted, it is bringing wind gusts of up to 120kph that have the potential to start new bushfires.