Pilot dies, cause of Australian fire found

(Vatican Radio) A 43-year-old Australian pilot died Thursday morning while trying to battle a wildfire in the Australian state of New South Wales. His plane crashed into a national park near Sydney, sparking a new fire.

In the meantime, investigators say an Australian military training exercise was the cause of the largest of the wildfires that burned throughout the state this past week.

The Rural Fire Service said it began at a Defense Department training area, west of Sydney, and was the result of “live ordnance exercises.” It burned 47,000 hectares and destroyed several homes.

In a statement, Acting Defense Minister George Brandis said the military was cooperating with investigators. The Rural Fire Service said the Defense Department's actions were obviously an accident and a side-effect of a routine activity.

Investigators are still looking into the causes of the other fires. Some were started by power lines brought down by strong winds; others were deliberately set. Police have arrested several children in connection with the latter.

On Thursday morning, 65 fires were still burning—24 out of control—though all emergency warnings had been lifted. Hundreds of residents have begun returning to the homes they had evacuated earlier.

In addition to the pilot, fires over the past week have killed one resident and destroyed more than 200 homes.

Listen to the report by Laura Ieraci: