The heat is on in Melbourne

Smoke rising from the Lancefield bushfire as is seen from Monegeetta, north of Melbourne. Bushfires are a common hazard during the summer. — Epapic

AS MALAYSIANS bravely battled the annual haze a few weeks ago, Melburnians had a different sort of fight on their hands.

Overnight, the usual clear blue skies heralding the start of spring in Melbourne in early October were shrouded in smoke.