Parts of Australia will face catastrophic fire conditions on Friday, as heatwaves hit most of the country, creating the most "significant" conditions since the Black Summer bushfires.
Severe to extreme heatwaves have been declared in every state and territory in Australia, except for Queensland, with high temperatures forecast for days.
The state of Victoria has declared a total fire ban for Friday with northern areas shutting 450 schools and childcare centres as well as parks, as the fire danger level for the region will be set at "catastrophic" - the highest level.
One meteorologist told the BBC that the combination of heatwaves and an elevated fire danger pose a risk not seen in years.
On Thursday, firefighters battled several fires in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), with a dozen planes carrying water called in to tackle a large blaze near Wodonga city, according to the ABC.
