Bush fires ringing Sydney burned out of control for several days, casting a pall of smoke over the city, knocking out power and water service to 10,000 homes and destroying vast tracks of national park land. Seventy percent of Australia’s oldest national park, Royal National Park south of Sydney, was devastated. The fires in New South Wales are the worst since 1994, when 200 Sydney homes were destroyed. As many as 40 of the more than 100 fires are believed to be the result of arson. Travel on the highways outside Sydney could be restricted until the fires are completely under control, and in the center of the city conditions should return to normal once the smoke clears.
