Australia’s deadly bushfires bring threat of ‘long and dangerous day ahead’

Joshua Berlinger
By Joshua Berlinger and Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN
Updated 7:43 PM EST, Mon November 11, 2019
A firefighter works as a bushfire, believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike that has ravaged an area of over 2,000 hectares in northern New South Wales state, burns in Port Macquarie on November 2, 2019. - Hundreds of koalas are feared to have burned to death in an out-of-control bushfire on Australia's east coast, wildlife authorities said October 30.
Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
A firefighter works as a bushfire, believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike that has ravaged an area of over 2,000 hectares in northern New South Wales state, burns in Port Macquarie on November 2, 2019. - Hundreds of koalas are feared to have burned to death in an out-of-control bushfire on Australia's east coast, wildlife authorities said October 30.
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(CNN) —  

Two Australian states are bracing for a day of “catastrophic” risk as firefighters battle over 100 deadly active bushfires that have produced clouds of smoke seen as far away as New Zealand.

Thousands of people are in the paths of the blazes in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, which have both declared a state of emergency.

On Tuesday morning, state authorities warned that although the situation was “calm” at the moment, eastern Australia was still facing a “very long and very dangerous day ahead.”

Strong winds, high temperatures, and low humidity could provide perfect conditions for dozens of fires to spread further today.

The “catastrophic” warning is the worst threat level ever issued for New South Wales’ capital, Sydney, under the current system, which was introduced in 2009.

The city is home to around 4.6 million people, but the greatest fire risk lies in rural areas outside the city center. They include the greater Hunter area, Illawarra, and Shoalhaven, which are also facing “catastrophic” fire threats.

“The only safe place to be is somewhere else,” Stuart Ellis, chief executive of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council, told national broadcaster, ABC.

Animal rescuer Marcus Fillinger carries a burned kangaroo on February 4 in Peak View, Australia. Fillinger tranquilized the wounded animal for transport to a recovery center.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: John Moore/Getty Images
Animal rescuer Marcus Fillinger carries a burned kangaroo on February 4 in Peak View, Australia. Fillinger tranquilized the wounded animal for transport to a recovery center.
A bushfire burns near the town of Bumbalong, south of Canberra on February 2.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images
A bushfire burns near the town of Bumbalong, south of Canberra on February 2.
Horses panic as a fire burns near Canberra, Australia, on Saturday, February 1.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
Horses panic as a fire burns near Canberra, Australia, on Saturday, February 1.
A firefighter coats a bridge with foam as a bushfire burns near Moruya, Australia, on Saturday, January 25.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Noah Berger/AP
A firefighter coats a bridge with foam as a bushfire burns near Moruya, Australia, on Saturday, January 25.
In this long-exposure photo, a car's taillights streak at left as a wildfire glows at dusk near Clear Range, Australia, on Friday, January 31.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Rick Rycroft/AP
In this long-exposure photo, a car's taillights streak at left as a wildfire glows at dusk near Clear Range, Australia, on Friday, January 31.
An airplane dumps fire retardant behind houses at the foot of Mount Tennent as fire creeps through the Namadgi National Park in Canberra on Thursday, January 30.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
An airplane dumps fire retardant behind houses at the foot of Mount Tennent as fire creeps through the Namadgi National Park in Canberra on Thursday, January 30.
People embrace near the scene of a water tanker plane crash in Cooma, Australia, on Thursday, January 23. Three American crew members died in the crash.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Jenny Evans/Getty Images
People embrace near the scene of a water tanker plane crash in Cooma, Australia, on Thursday, January 23. Three American crew members died in the crash.
Flying embers are seen in this long-exposure photo from Moruya on Thursday, January 23.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Sam Mooy/Getty Images
Flying embers are seen in this long-exposure photo from Moruya on Thursday, January 23.
A young koala named Jeremy receives medical attention for burns at the Healesville Sanctuary in Badger Creek, Australia, on January 23.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: David Crosling/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A young koala named Jeremy receives medical attention for burns at the Healesville Sanctuary in Badger Creek, Australia, on January 23.
Firefighters battle the Morton Fire as it burns a home near Bundanoon, Australia, on January 23.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Noah Berger/AP
Firefighters battle the Morton Fire as it burns a home near Bundanoon, Australia, on January 23.
The Parliament House in Canberra is blanketed by bushfire smoke on January 23.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Mark Evans/Getty Images
The Parliament House in Canberra is blanketed by bushfire smoke on January 23.
A firefighter battles the Morton Fire as it consumes a home near Bundanoon on January 23.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Noah Berger/AP
A firefighter battles the Morton Fire as it consumes a home near Bundanoon on January 23.
Veterinarian Ludo Valenza holds two grey-headed flying foxes, which were being treated for bushfire injuries at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Beerwah, Australia, on Wednesday, January 15.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Darren England/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Veterinarian Ludo Valenza holds two grey-headed flying foxes, which were being treated for bushfire injuries at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Beerwah, Australia, on Wednesday, January 15.
Lt. Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion visits the scene where his uncle and cousin died in a bushfire on Australia's Kangaroo Island.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: CPL Tristan Kennedy/Australian Department of Defence
Lt. Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion visits the scene where his uncle and cousin died in a bushfire on Australia's Kangaroo Island.
A smoky haze from bushfires hovers over the Melbourne skyline ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament on Tuesday, January 14. Poor air quality disrupted the qualifying rounds of the tournament.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: William West/AFP/Getty Images
A smoky haze from bushfires hovers over the Melbourne skyline ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament on Tuesday, January 14. Poor air quality disrupted the qualifying rounds of the tournament.
Properties damaged and destroyed by fire are seen in Nerrigundah, Australia, on Monday, January 13.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Sam McNeil/AP
Properties damaged and destroyed by fire are seen in Nerrigundah, Australia, on Monday, January 13.
Debris remains where houses stood in the Australian village of Wingello on January 13.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Chu Chen/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images
Debris remains where houses stood in the Australian village of Wingello on January 13.
Bonnie Morris and sister Raemi Morris look on as their family and firefighters battle bushfires at the edge of their family farm in Karatta on Saturday, January 11.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Bonnie Morris and sister Raemi Morris look on as their family and firefighters battle bushfires at the edge of their family farm in Karatta on Saturday, January 11.
Pictures of firefighters are projected onto the Sydney Opera House on January 11.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Don Arnold/Getty Images
Pictures of firefighters are projected onto the Sydney Opera House on January 11.
A vehicle makes its way through thick fog mixed with bushfire smoke in the Ruined Castle area of the Blue Mountains on January 11.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
A vehicle makes its way through thick fog mixed with bushfire smoke in the Ruined Castle area of the Blue Mountains on January 11.
Protesters march through downtown Melbourne on Friday, January 10, in response to the ongoing bushfire crisis.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Protesters march through downtown Melbourne on Friday, January 10, in response to the ongoing bushfire crisis.
An aerial view shows a track running through trees that were scorched by bushfires in East Gippsland, Australia, on Thursday, January 9.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg/Getty Images
An aerial view shows a track running through trees that were scorched by bushfires in East Gippsland, Australia, on Thursday, January 9.
A pile of wood chips burns at a timber mill in Eden, Australia, on January 9.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Sean Davey/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A pile of wood chips burns at a timber mill in Eden, Australia, on January 9.
Lisa Poulsen tends to her Clydesdale horse, Jake, on January 9. Jake suffered burn injuries in a bushfire on December 31.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Sean Davey/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lisa Poulsen tends to her Clydesdale horse, Jake, on January 9. Jake suffered burn injuries in a bushfire on December 31.
A small wave of black water full of burned debris breaks at a beach at Eden on January 9.
Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia
PHOTO: Rick Rycroft/AP
A small wave of black water full of burned debris breaks at a beach at Eden on January 9.