Sydney ? Crews battled to contain dozens of wildfires across southeastern Australia on Saturday as temperatures soared to record levels and officials warned conditions were perfect for a deadly inferno.

At least 40 fires were blazing in New South Wales state, and more burned in Victoria and South Australia. Most were in parks and bush land away from residential areas.

Forecasters said a heat wave that has stewed millions of people in the southeast in the past two weeks would peak at the weekend with temperatures of up to 117 degrees Fahrenheit.