• The HMAS Choules departs from Fleet Base East Kuttabul to assist in bushfire relief efforts farther down the coast in New South Wales Wednesday. Thousands of tourists have been given less than 48 hours on Thursday to evacuate fire-ravaged coastal communities as Australia braces for a weekend heatwave expected to fan deadly bushfires. | PHOTO BY BENJAMIN RICKETTS / ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY / VIA AFP-JIJI
    The HMAS Choules departs from Fleet Base East Kuttabul to assist in bushfire relief efforts farther down the coast in New South Wales Wednesday. Thousands of tourists have been given less than 48 hours on Thursday to evacuate fire-ravaged coastal communities as Australia braces for a weekend heatwave expected to fan deadly bushfires. | PHOTO BY BENJAMIN RICKETTS / ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY / VIA AFP-JIJI

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SYDNEY – The Australian navy was racing on Friday to rescue thousands of people stranded on the east coast of the fire-ravaged country as a searing weather front was set to whip up more blazes across the states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW).

The premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, declared a state of disaster for the first time ever, giving authorities broad powers to compel people to leave their properties and take control of services.

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