A massive stretch of about 80 bush fires continues to rage Sunday across roughly 460 miles of Australia’s east coast, with three dead and over 150 homes damaged. Thousands have had to flee their homes, according to reports.

The blaze currently reaches from Crowdy Bay National Park in New South Wales up north to the resort town of Noosa in Queensland. Firefighters warned Sunday that the fires could escalate in the coming days as the department struggles to contain them.

Julie Fletcher, 63, of Johns River, a locality about 170 miles north of Sydney, was found dead in her home. She had previously texted a neighbor saying that she was preparing to abandon her home.

“I got a message from her at 9:30 p.m. on Friday night saying she was putting her things in the car and getting ready to go,” the neighbor said. “She obviously never made it out. What a horrible way to go.”

The other confirmed deaths occurred in the town of Wytaliba, a small New South Wales town near the Guy Fawkes River National Park. George Nole was found inside his own burned-out car. Vivian Chaplain, 69, died while being treated for severe burns sustained while trying to save her home.

“Don’t wait for the last minute and ring for a firetruck because it may not get there,” said Jeremy Fewtrell, Deputy Commissioner of New South Wales Fire and Rescue. “We just don’t want to lose more people.”

The Australian government has pledged disaster recovery payments to be made in the amount of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child affected by the continuing bush fires.

Bushfires burn in the distance as children play on a beach in Forster, north of Sydney
Bushfires burn in the distance as children play on a beach in Forster, north of Sydney AFP / PETER PARKS
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