Fire threatened a tiny coastal village on Tuesday as the air over Australia's largest city was clear of smoke for the first time in more than two weeks.
Wildfires burned in the Shoalhaven region, about 200 km south of Sydney. As many as 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate several towns on Monday.
By Tuesday morning, some fires had changed direction because of shifting winds and many people returned to their homes. However, about 200 residents and vacationers from the hamlet of Fisherman's Paradise remained camped out at a nearby fairground.
They recounted how police ordered them to leave their homes Monday afternoon.
"We were only able to grab photographs, important documents, the dog, the cat and the family," said resident July Bayliff. "There was lots of smoke and the winds were fierce."
Firefighters were preparing to defend the town's homes as flames consumed surrounding forest.
Later Tuesday, officials said two large water-dumping helicopters were on their way to the south coast to help fight the fires.
Bureau Report
