Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned on Wednesday that the country remained in a fire crisis with the threats moving to a new stage, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Rudd gave the warning when updating Federal Parliament on the bushfire that continue to rage in Victoria.

Rudd said that difficulties may surface as the country faces the combined challenge of fighting fires that have intensified in the past 24 hours and recovery work.

Over 1,000 homes have been lost in the fires that have so far killed over 180 people, with 450,000 hectares burnt and 5,000 people now homeless, Rudd said.

"In executing these tasks there will inevitable be gaps in what governments do and inevitably frustrations will emerge," he said.

"Our task in the days and weeks and months ahead is to fill those gaps as quickly and as effectively as possible."

Rudd also told parliament the government is doing everything it can to ensure fire victims get quick access to emergency payments.

In other measures, Australian government has also urged insurance companies to act quickly on claims.

Rudd says he has made it clear to the Insurance Council of Australia that the government expects prompt action.

"If any person has problems with insurance companies, people who have been affected by this extraordinary disaster, I would like them to contact their local member of Parliament," he said.

He also reiterated that the government's financial contribution to the recovery effort was "uncapped and unconditional".

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2009)