Boots the emu gets a hosedown in Adelaide Zoo as the mercury rises in southern Australia.<br/> While many residents are flocking to the beach to escape the heat, the soaring temperatures are proving dangerous for many.<br/> Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius - 104 degrees Fahrenheit - combined with hot dry winds are sparking spot and grass fires in many areas - and causing widespread electricity blackouts.<br/> With cases of heat-related illnesses on the rise, the prime minister has warned people to take safety advice seriously.<br/> Boots' companions in Adelaide Zoo are clearly feeling the heat - though park officials are doing everything possible to keep them cool.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZOO KEEPER, ADELAIDE ZOO, JOHN DELLA, SAYING:<br/> "You've got to make sure they've got access to fresh water, cold water, their misting systems are on, and they're comfortable."<br/> Adelaide recorded its highest-ever temperature for Jan 1 - more than 106 degrees Fahrenheit - in more than a century, according to one newspaper report.<br/> Sunita Rappai, Reuters
