´óÏó´«Ã½

Australians remember the devastating bush fires as temperatures rise again.

The Black Saturday fires in the Australian state of Victoria earlier this year remain a vivid and painful memory.

At least 173 people died and over 2000 homes were destroyed.

And now - after brief winter respite from the heat - Australians are facing another scorching summer: the south is already seeing temperatures above 35 degrees.

In Flowerdale, just north of Melbourne, two of every three homes were destroyed in the fires. And as temperatures soar, the town is preparing for another season under threat of fire.

Outlook's Sharon Mascall visited Flowerdale and found out about life in one of Australia's fire danger zones.

As the fire season gets underway and residents prepare for the worst, it is not just the hot, dry, windy conditions that pose a fire threat - many bushfires are started deliberately.

Sharon Mascall lives in one of the areas affected by bushfires and knows the risks.

In a second report for Outlook, she tells us about the problem posed by arsonists in South Australia, and what motivates them to start these devastating fires.