Deadly wildfires raged on in southeast Australia Sunday despite cooler temperatures and scores of firefighters trying to control the flames, CNN reported.
At least 26 people have died in the fires, authorities said Sunday
"Unfortunately those numbers will increase as we move through the day," said Kieran Walshe, deputy police commissioner of the state of Victoria, told CNN Sunday, adding that police are investigating possible instances of arson.
"We do believe some of the fires are the result of human intervention," he said. "When you look at the way fires started, you can clearly see it's not possible for a natural ignition to occur."
Despite earlier reports, the fires have not posed a significant threat to more populous areas, such as Melbourne, as they sweep across rural outskirts of southeastern Australia, he said.
On Saturday, an estimated 30,000 acres were ablaze, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.