A wildfire burning outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee destroyed more than 30 large vacation cabins.

The 145-acre fire was first reported around 5 p.m. Sunday.  Two National Guard helicopters are being dispatched Monday to help extinguish the fire which is now contained and not spreading.

A fire resources coordinator, Ben Bryson, says some of the cabins were occupied and about 200 people were evacuated, but no injuries were reported.

While Australians are battling 110 wild fires and an approaching cyclone, a haboob has now decided to throw itself in the mix.

Striking images have emerged of a massive dust storm, which rolled across northwestern Australia and out to the Indian Ocean just before sunset on Wednesday evening.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Austen Watkins told the West Australian the phenomenon was created as wind and rain caused the thunderstorm to dump sand and dust it had picked while passing over the coastal town of Onslow, in the Pilbara region.

The phenomenon is known as a "haboob" by meteorologists.

Mr Watkins told the West Australian gusts of up to 102km/h were recorded from the thunderstorm about 7.30pm local time (2.30pm NZT) on Wednesday.

He said the storm was unrelated to Tropical Cyclone Narelle, which is bearing down on the northwestern coast.

Steve Brooks, from Perth Weather Live said the bright red color in the storm is unrelated to the massive bush fires across Australia this week. Instead, the red dust and iron ore which covers the Pilbara region are believed to have caused the vivid colour.

Mr Brooks said haboobs are not common but do happen around northern parts of Western Australia. 

Meanwhile, a cyclone warning in place for coastal areas from Whim Creek to Coral Bay, including Karratha, Dampier, Onslow and Exmouth.

Tropical cyclone Narelle is currently a category 4 storm, and is gaining strength as it approaches Australia's northwestern coast.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall south of Perth early next week, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

On the opposite coast, there is no let up for firefighters battling bush fires across southeastern Australia, as temperatures continue to soar.

Fire weather warnings are place across New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, and Western Australia.

An extreme fire danger is forecast for the southern Riverina in NSW.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service said there are 110 fires raging in the state, 14 of them uncontained. About 1,200 firefighters and 331 trucks are fighting the fires, which have burnt about 350,000 hectares.

100 people missing while devastating brushfire continues to burn out-of-control in Tasmania in southern Australia..

Rescue teams moving from home to home searching for the missing and dead.

Thousands of people left stranded and homeless.

Over 100 buildings and 60,000 hectares consumed by wildfire.

The worst wildfires in almost half a century is burning out of control in southern Tasmania.

Rescuers are painstakingly conducting property searches in Dunalley, Boomer Bay, and Marion Bay to search for lives which may have been lost during a devastating brushfire that hit that area.

"It's not to say those people have necessarily come to harm, but we can't totally eliminate that until we have contact with those individuals," reported acting Police Commission Scott Tilyard.  "But we have to brace ourselves for the fact we may locate one or more deceased people.

"There are a lot of premises that need to be checked. Until we've had the opportunity to check every one of those locations we won't be in a position to confirm there has been no deaths."

More than 2500 people were rescued by boats from the Tasman Peninsula after taking refuge from the fire. 

Channel 9 correspondent Darren Curtis reported, "A lot of the people that stayed actually said that the fire was so intense when it swept through quickly.

"The roar was so intense – gas bottles were flaring all over the place. In fact, water tanks were actually bubbling and turning to steam.

"People here were right next to the ocean. People were prepared to move, but the fire came down so quickly they actually had to go and lower themselves into the water with their pets and their children, and just have their nose above the water, as the flames swept all around them.

Interstate fire crews have arrived in Tasmania to help extinguish the four massive fires which burnt more than 60,000 hectares.

The brushfire continues to burn out of control in several areas of the state.

Brushfires devestates town in southern Tasmania

Brushfires rained down on cities and beachside towns in Tasmania as homes and property were consumed in extreme weather.

Reports of fatalities are being investigated as emergency workers check the fire devastated area of Dunalley which is east of Hobart.

Around 80 properties were lost in the fire between Dunalley and Boomer Bay.

Police boats are rescuing approximately 50 people who took refuge on the waterfront at the top of the Tasman Peninsula.

Fanned by high winds and record temperatures, the worst fire came out of the hills to the east of Hobart. Bystanders reported the fire jumped the highway and quickly intensified.

Reports of surfaced that the Dunalley school was completely consumed by the fire.

The Tasmanian Fire Service confirmed structure losses around the towns of Copping and Dunalley, and said embers were falling further down the peninsula.

Police reported the Derwent Valley fire started Thursday from a campfire that was not properly extinguished on Wednesday night, before a total fire ban was imposed.

Hobart recorded its highest ever temperature, 41.8 degrees at 4pm – one degree higher than the previous 1976 record.

Several hundred firefighters using 114 units are fighting 19 active fires.

Forecasters predict weather conditions should ease some overnight.

Authorities say the biggest threat to lives and homes from a bushfire, burning near Bremer Bay on WA's South Coast, is likely to come tomorrow morning.

That is when winds are expected to push the fire, which is three kilometers north of the town, in its direction.

The Department of Environment and Conservation says if the blaze does break its containment lines, firefighters will have no hope of defending properties in the Port Henry subdivision.

Incident controller Greg Mair says the fire could move very quickly.

"A fire could travel quite rapidly and impact within the hour on the Bremer Bay community," he said.

"That's the scenario we obviously hope won't happen but it's a scenario that we are preparing for."

Mr Mair says the weather conditions are expected to deteriorate tomorrow.

"The winds are forecast to be quite strong early in the morning, so as early as between 7:00 am and 9:00 am tomorrow; we can expect quite strong winds from the north-west," he said.

About 130 firefighters are battling the blaze which has burned through 11,000 hectares since Thursday.

Crews spent the day strengthening defensive perimeters.

Mr Mair says there are large fuel loads between the blaze and the town.

"There's quite extensive areas of bush and scrub land, as well as farmers' paddocks, between the fire and the community," he said.

"And, the community itself does have quite a bit of bush in and around it."

He says authorities are prepared for the worst.

A safe shelter has been set up 75 kilometers north east of Bremer Bay in Boxwood Hill for people evacuating their homes.

"The message is to people that if they are getting out of Bremer and they can't go to any friends or relatives, go to this evacuation centre in Boxwood Hill, probably sooner rather than later," she said.

People are being advised to take supplies such as a portable radio, flashlight, spare batteries, sleeping bags, medications and food.

The Fern Lake fire, burning in Rocky Mountain National Park since Oct. 9, more than tripled in size overnight, forcing the evacuation of 583 homes early Saturday.

The 4,400-acre fire, sparked by an illegal campfire in Rocky Mountain National Park, exploded early Saturday when it was pushed by strong winds, with gusts up to 75 mph.

"The wind last night was very strong and fanned the flames," said John Schulz, spokesman for the Larimer County Sheriff's Department. "It jumped the lines."

An unoccupied, privately owned cabin was destroyed, and many others were threatened, Schulz said.

Fire spokeswoman Traci Weaver said teams made good progress fighting the fire Saturday, but high winds were expected again Sunday, especially late in the day.

A Type I incident management team will assume control of the fire Sunday.

"What we really need is snow," Weaver said.

Snow, however, is not in the forecast. A cold front Sunday was expected to bring more gusts but not much moisture.

Before Friday night, the fire had been listed as 1,515 acres in steep, rough terrain. Containment had been up to 40 percent. Weaver said she could not estimate the level of containment Saturday.

For most of November, the fire smoldered quietly, being monitored by about a dozen firefighters, with containment expected by Dec. 17. Suppressing the fire on the ground was considered extremely unsafe because of the terrain, and officials expected the fire to diminish once the snows came.

An evacuation center has been set up at Estes Park High School. The Salvation Army and Red Cross are providing meals for the evacuees.

Large animals were being taken to the Stanley Park Fairgrounds, 1209 Manford Ave.

Support to fight the fire increased from 61 firefighters Friday to 200 Saturday. Two hot-shot crews were on their way to the wildfire, and numerous local fire engines were headed to the area, officials said.

The arrival of two heavy air tankers from Southern California was delayed at least one day because of poor visibility in the area, Patterson said.

Every October, the National Fire Protection Association observes Fire Prevention Week. Throughout the month, firefighters from local departments will visit grade schools and other places in the community teaching fire safety and prevention. This Year’s theme is, “Have 2 Ways Out.”

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls.

The Sycamore Fire Department encourages all members of the community to observe fire prevention week and make fire escape planning and practice a priority. Every household should have a home fire escape plan that prepares families to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm sounds. If one exit is blocked by smoke, it’s imperative to plan for another escape outlet. Always plan for two ways out of your home because you never know from which direction a fire will come, and being prepared can save lives.

Fire Fast Facts

• Fifty-five percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings occur in bedrooms, more than any other room.
• Half of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings occur between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This period also accounts for 47 percent of all fatal fires.
• Thirty-six percent of fire victims in residential buildings were trying to escape at the time of their deaths; 35 percent were sleeping.
• Approximately 44 percent of civilians who die in residential building fires are between the ages of 40 and 69. Thirteen percent of the fire fatalities in residential buildings are younger than 10.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration

Fire Safety Tips

• Make a map of your home. Mark a door and window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home.
• Make sure everyone in your home knows how to respond if the smoke alarm sounds.
• Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible ways out.
• Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan twice a year.
• Test smoke alarms at least monthly. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond when tested.
• Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Source: Sycamore Fire Department

In 1962, on the outskirts of the sleepy little town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, firefighters conducted a control burn in a landfill and allowed it to burn for some time.  Unbeknownst to them, an unsealed opening created a breach in an abandoned strip mine.  Connected to the strip mine is a cluster of coal veins running near the surface.  The burning trash ignited the coal which started on of the longest burning fires in U.S. History.  

For hours firefighters battled the blaze and thought the fire extinguished only to find it reignited a few days later.  Again, firefighters fought for days and thought it to be out.  For the next two decades, workers attempted to douse the flames.

All firefighting efforts failed and local government officials delayed taking any real action to save the nearby village of Centralia. 

By the early 1980, the fire affected approximately 350 acres.  Hundreds of homes had to be abandoned as carbon monoxide levels reached life threatening levels. 

On February 14, 1981, the ground collapsed under Todd Domboski and created a hole 150 feet deep and four feet in diameter.   Todd clung to an exposed tree root and was pulled to safety by his cousin.  The heat from the breach would have been sufficient to kill him instantly if he had gone just a little deeper in the crater.  The incident provoked the first national media attention.

A 1983 engineering study revealed that the fire could burn for another century or even more and “could conceivably spread over an area of approximately 3,700 acres.”  Other studies have shown that if the fire is not contained it will continue to spread and eventually threaten the neighboring town of Ashland. 

By 1991, there was fire under about 600 surface acres with no further plans to fight the fire.

As time passed, the cost of fighting the fire and helping the residents of Centralia increased. Fifty years later with more than 50 million dollars spent, the fire still burns through the coal mines under the town and surrounding hillside. 

The town was ripped apart as fire, smoke, fumes, and toxic gases seeped through the back yards, basements and streets of Centralia.  Most homes were condemned and residents were relocated over the years with federal government grants.  A few die-hard souls refused to be relocated and still remain in the town. 

By 1997 the population of Centralia dwindled to just 44 remaining residents.

In 2009, Governor Ed Rendell began the formal eviction of the remaining Centralia residents.

Today Centralia is almost a ghost town.

The motorists who drive past Centralia on Route 61 are totally unaware of the sad history surrounding the village.

A coal mine fire in New Castle, Colorado has been burning since 1899 and shows no sign of slowing down.  

In the early 1880s, New Castle, Colorado (in Garfield County) was a thriving prospectors and miners town.  Two major coal mines were situated in New Castle:  the Consolidated Mine just west of downtown and the Vulcan Mine to the southeast.  During the peak of mining activity in the 1890s, New Castle’s population ranged from 1,500 to 2,500 people.  

The Consolidated Mine was the largest on the Wheeler vein and boasted of rich coal veins more than 50 feet thick.  The mines produced high-grade soft coal but also yielded extremely high levels of methane gas. 

On February 18, 1896, the Vulcan Mine in New Castle exploded with a force powerful enough to blow timber from the mouth of the mine to the Colorado River 400 feet away. Forty-nine mine workers were killed in the explosion.  

Mine inspectors reported that “no definite cause could be found for the disaster.” The recovery efforts for locating the bodies took four weeks.  

Then in 1899, an explosion at the Consolidated Mine caused an unquenchable fire leaving mine operators no choice but permanently close the site.

Mine fires burn for decades to hundreds of years and vent through natural cracks.  In 2002, the underground Consolidated Mine fire burned to the surface and sparked a wildfire which became known as the Coal Seam Fire.  The rapidly moving fire burned 12,229 acres and cost more than $7 million to fight.

The fires are still burning today.

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

The reality is that when fire strikes, your home could be engulfed in smoke and flames in just a few minutes.  

It is important to have a home fire escape plan that prepares your family to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm sounds. What if your first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames? That's why having two ways out is such a key part of your plan. This year’s theme,“Have 2 Ways Out!”, focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.