Summary
Tens of thousands of Australians took shelter Tuesday after authorities warned it was too late for them to leave their homes as bushfires raged across a vast area of the country's east coast and shrouded Sydney in smoke.
An aircraft was diverted to drop fire retardants on emergency bushfires threatening homes in Sydney's northern suburbs.
In the small town of Wauchope, 400 km (250 miles) north of Sydney, residents moved hundreds of livestock to the central showground as fires approached.
Coombes, who lives about 10 km (6 miles) outside town, said he would likely lose his home because it was in the anticipated path of the fire.
Firefighters are closely watching a blaze in greater Sydney, especially as aircraft operations will be grounded at night leaving people on the ground to deal with fires.
In Sydney, home to five million people, health authorities urged people with respiratory issues to stay indoors because the city was covered by a "hazardous" smoky haze.
Still, some 55 fires were burning across the northern state Tuesday afternoon.
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