Heavy Rain Quenches Some Australian Fires

Heavy rain fell in parts of Australia for the first time in more than two weeks, dousing flames today after weary crews of volunteers had fought fire with fire, setting controlled burns to block blazes.

Up to 2 inches of rain fell overnight, mainly in the Blue Mountains national park 50 miles west of Sydney. Officials said wildfires that had raced through the area since Dec. 24 had been reduced to smoldering embers.

However, they said that rain had not fallen in all fire-affected areas and that the crisis in New South Wales state was not over.

“There’s a long way to go yet, but certainly there’s no more welcome sound to a firefighter than raindrops on a roof,” said John Winter, Rural Fire Services spokesman.

Weather forecasters said that the rain showers broke an 18-day dry spell. They warned, however, that high temperatures approaching 100 could return later today, bringing dry outback winds that could help rekindle fires.

The bush fires have burned across Australia’s most populous state for two weeks. About half of the original 100 fires were set deliberately, and 24 people--including teenagers and a 9-year-old--have been arrested, officials said.

About 20,000 firefighters have battled the fires.

No deaths have been reported, although thousands of people have been evacuated and about 170 homes destroyed.

As much as 1.2 million acres of forest and farmland have been razed.

Wildlife officials estimate that thousands of native Australian animals, including koalas, have been killed or injured in the fires.