Australia has issued a new level of catastrophic fire warning for the first time in the south of the country. Today's Catastrophic (Code Red) warning was issued after temperatures were forecast to exceed 40C. A November heatwave is unusual in Victoria state, and several days of high temperatures have left the land extremely vulnerable to fire. Residents are being strongly urged to leave their homes because of a high risk of death or destruction, though they cannot be forced to evacuate. South Australia's Country Fire Service has warned people in two northern districts to leave tonight or early tomorrow morning, well before a fire starts. It said any fires in the North West Pastoral and Flinders districts would be uncontrollable. Fire service chief Euan Ferguson said in the the next couple of days high temperatures, very low humidity and very strong winds would be witnessed and would be the first real test for the summer.<br/>