Australians flee homes as police investigate suspicious fires

Hundreds of Australians have fled their homes in the eastern states as 140 fires ravaged parts of Queensland and New South Wales, officials said on Tuesday. Strong winds have fanned bushfires in the two Australian states since Monday. In the north-eastern state of Queensland alone, low humidity levels, high winds and dried out vegetation have fuelled 85 fires that have destroyed or damaged 84 houses across the state. In neighbouring New South Wales, fire-fighters were battling about 55 fires and about five properties had been confirmed destroyed, the Rural Fire Service said on Monday. Bushfires have started earlier than normal in the southern hemisphere spring. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said winds would intensify throughout the day on Tuesday, but fire threats should abate on Wednesday.