Fire bans declared across Australia

The fire off Flux Road, Wamuran Basin, near Caboolture, began about 6.30am (AEST) on Tuesday, a Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said.

No properties are under threat, but the blaze has not been contained, and a helicopter will soon begin water bombing.

There is a large amount of smoke in the area, and residents are advised to keep their doors and windows shut.

Motorists are also urged to take care on nearby roads.

Backburning to protect water catchments

Meanwhile in Melbourne, forty metre wide fire breaks are being constructed to protect dams and guard them against bushfires this summer.

By Christmas, 500km of fire breaks will be in place, protecting the Thomson and Upper Yarra catchments that supply most of Melbourne's drinking water.
   
Victorian Premier John Brumby inspected the progress from the air near Healesville, east of Melbourne, on Tuesday.

He said 420km had already been burned, with the remainder scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

"All of this is crucial to protecting what we call the jewels in the crown - the Thomson and the Upper Yarra," Mr Brumby told reporters.
   
"We've got some of the very best water anywhere in the world and we need to protect that water and so these fire breaks are designed to do exactly that."
   
Catastrophic bushfires damaged smaller catchment areas last summer, burning through the O'Shannassy, Tarago and Maroondah catchments.
   
Mr Brumby said a second helicopter would be dedicated to protecting vital catchments this fire season.

NSW bracing for fires

Meanwhile residents in New South Wales have been told to expect more total fire bans, after two bushfires threatened properties in Sydney's southwest.

Severe fire danger is forecast for the Northwestern, Upper Central West, Plains and Lower Central West Plains.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service warns that any bush fire that starts has the potential to threaten lives and destroy homes.

Up to 50 homes were under threat at Hoxton in Sydney's west yesterday, until firefighters got the upper hand when a cool southerly spread across the city in the late afternoon.

Meanwhile, a fire in the Canobolas State Forest, west of Sydney, will keep burning throughout the night.

Rural residents around Pinnacle, Giles and Berrilee Roads have been told to prepare properties and watch out for spot fires.