Arson investigation begins into Sydney wildfires
Police are investigating whether arsonists are behind many of the wildfires that have destroyed homes near Sydney.
About 100 fires continue to burn across New South Wales including some in the fringe suburbs of Sydney.
The New South Wales government says a police task force had been established to investigate suspected incidents of arson.
Authorities, who believe lightning strikes caused some fires, say some 140 homes have been destroyed and hundreds of thousands of acres of land razed.
About 4,000 people have also been evacuated as the fires burn south, west and northwest of Sydney, some less than 15 miles from the city centre.
No serious injuries have been reported but major roads and rail services have been cut by the fires, and about 12,000 homes are without electricity.
The blazes started late last week in rural areas and spread, fanned by sweltering temperatures and high winds.
Rural fire services commissioner Phil Koperberg said there were possibly 40 fires that couldn't be explained and may have been lit deliberately.
Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft began water bombing affected areas of Sydney's southern suburbs after another 1,000 people in the region were evacuated overnight.
