At least one man died defending his home as fierce fires raged around Australia's largest city overnight, forcing hundreds to evacuate and engulfing at least 20 houses.
At daybreak on Thursday, as a brown haze hung over Sydney, firefighters braced for a second day of ferocious bushfires with winds expected to exceed 60 km per hour and temperatures seen heading up towards 30 degrees Celsius.
"We know it's going to be a difficult day and every fire truck available has been committed to the firefighting effort," New South Wales Rural Fire Service spokesman Mr John Winter said.
Channel Seven television said a 73-year-old man died in a far northern suburb of the city, trying to herd his horses to safety and save his home. Several firefighters suffered burns or broken bones after their fire engine was engulfed by flames.
Some residential areas were evacuated overnight, including parts of Sydney's main army barracks, while waterside dwellers were helped to safety by surf lifesavers in boats.
The current fires began on Wednesday as temperatures soared and a strong wind fanned flames, blowing a thick brown cloud over the harbour.
Some power lines were cut and one substation exploded, disrupting train services, trapping office workers in lifts and forcing the cancellation of evening performances at the Sydney Opera House.