I don't know whether people have read of these, but they're totally horrific. Hundreds of people have died, many more have been severely burned, countless numbers have had homes and their whole environment destroyed. And the fires are still completely out of control. My "interest" is that I have friends and relatives in the area.

Yet again it seems that the fires were largely started deliberately. What sort of person can do this?

Either an idiotic or an evil one. Fire is so devastating. Are your friends and relatives okay?