Heat and lightning spark bushfires

SYDNEY, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Firefighters battled dozens of bushfires in South Australia Friday as record-breaking temperatures and lightning storms continued, officials say.

Emergency crews fought scores of fires in the populous state of New South Wales, some on the outskirts of Sydney, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

"There is quite a deal of fire burning in the state," said Rob Rogers, assistant commissioner of the Rural Fire Service.

Rogers said cooler weather wasn't expected until Sunday.

"We still have two days of pretty severe fire weather," he said.

Planes and helicopters were sent to fly over bushland where lightning strikes were spotted.

The government was allowing aircraft battling the numerous bushfires to use a Royal Australian Air Force base.

In the South Australian town of Port Lincoln, schools cancelled bus service and prepared to keep children overnight if their parents were unable to pick them up, The Australian reported.