Sydney bushfire deemed ‘highly suspicious’ as threat eases
A large bushfire that has threatened homes in Sydney is likely to have been deliberately lit, Australian authorities say.
The blaze, which began on Saturday, has burnt through 2,500 hectares of land in the city's southern suburbs.
Some residents had been warned of immediate danger to their lives, but firefighters say the threat has eased.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) described the blaze as "highly suspicious".
"How dare anyone - if they are deliberately involved in lighting fires - endanger our firefighters and also [put] all these communities in harm's way," said Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
The bushfire forced some locals to evacuate their homes on the weekend, while others were told it was too dangerous to leave.
Recent weather in south-eastern Aus...
