2009–10 Australian bushfire season

Soaring temperatures and strong winds stoked unpredictable bushfires near Australia's capital city on Feb. 1, closing a major highway and prompting warnings for some residents that it was too late to evacuate.

Skies along the Monaro Highway in the Australian Capital Territory turned orange-red as an uncontrolled blaze ballooned to more than 35,000 hectares (74,000 acres) in size.

Nearly 50 firefighters and 20 trucks were battling on Tuesday morning a fire that broke out on the outskirts of Kounina in Aigialia, northern Peloponnese in the early hours.

According to a report on Skai the fire started in the early hours and was fanned by strong winds to spread to inaccessible parts of the region.