Bushfires threatening homes in Australia's Brisbane

An Australian man died of a heart attack while fighting bushfires threatening his home in the southern suburbs of Brisbane. The blazes came close to residential areas in parts of northern New South Wales, prompting authorities to raise alert levels. But a successful effort supported by better weather conditions helped firefighters prevent home losses. Tourists camping in the region warily watched the blazes glowing red in the night sky. A man who is believed to be in his 80s, died of a heart attack while defending his property from an approaching grass fire in southern Brisbane. Firefighters in the area tried to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. Australia has begun preparing more than 1,000 fire refuges and will recast its national alert system to warn of catastrophic bushfires as a new fire season threatens to eclipse blazes this year which killed 173 people.