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MELBOURNE, Australia — Thousands of firefighters in southern Australia were on alert today over fears that strong winds and dry conditions could whip still-burning wildfires into a dangerous new threat to residents. More than 600 schools and child-care centers were closed, as well as 30 national parks where fires could spring up, and 5 million people were sent text messages on their mobile phones warning them of the dangerous conditions. Officials fear a new fire threat to match that of Feb. 7, when at least 210 people were killed by fast-moving fires.
