AUSTRALIA has been battling its worst bushfire season since September, with fires killing 29 people and destroying thousands of homes.
Today (January 16) there are still 85 fires burning across New South Wales, with 30 of them yet to be contained.
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A fire approaches the village of Nerrigundah, Australia. The tiny village has been among the hardest hit by Australia's devastating wildfiresCredit: AP:Associated Press
Australia Fires Map
Officials say that the threat from fires is far from over despite cooler weather.
Australian firefighters are preparing to use the week of calmer conditions to contain the most volatile parts of bushfires that are threatening private property and destroying large swathes of national parks in eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales.
In NSW around 18 bushfires are still not contained with one fire decl;ated as "emergency level" in Victoria.
Seven fires were still labelled in the watch and act category.
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What has happened so far?
January 2020
On January 16, thunderstorms and heavy rain swept across parts of the east coast, bringing hope that the fires may at least be slowed.
On January 11, a terrifying video emerged showing the ferocity of Australia's out-of-control wildfires, showing a raging firestorm engulf a family home while its owners were trapped inside -no one was harmed.
On January 11, warmer temperatures and elevated winds in the afternoon caused an increase in fire activity in Victoria and southern New South Wales, but fire activity remained much less significant than it was on Friday.
On January 10, a 90km/h southerly wind is worsening conditions in NSW, and one male firefighter in his mid-20s suffered burns to his face fighting fires in the Snowy Valley region
On January 9, Victoria has declared a state of disaster after blazes have already burnt 1.2 hectares and claimed three lives in the state.
On January 8, the plume of smoke that has risen from the inferno is big enough to cover the whole of Russia and parts of Europe.
On January 7, nearly 2,000 homes have been destroyed in the fires and temperatures are expected to soar again on Friday, prompting fears that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".
On January 5, New South Wales Transport Minister Andrew Constance compared the bushfires to "an atomic bomb."
On January 4, Australians are bracing for a dangerous and unpredictable night as bushfires are expected to worsen.
A mass evacuation took place on January 3 as around 1,000 people in Mallacoota, Victoria, who were sheltering on beaches. were ferried to the town of Western Port.
On January 2 it was announced that the state of New South Wales declared a week-long state of emergency as high temperatures and strong winds are set for the following few days, fuelling the deadly blazes.
The first day of the year saw Aussies face a "humanitarian crisis" as food, water and fuel began to run out while bushfires continued to spread.
On December 19, five hero firefighters were injured when their tanker was overrun by fire.
On December 11, the Rural Fire Service confirmed that 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1582 outbuildings had been destroyed in NSW.
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Rural Fire Service firefighters conduct property protection patrols at the Dunn Road fire around Mount Adrah earlier this weekCredit: Getty Images - Getty
November 2019
Throughout November, 1,228,050 acres of land was destroyed in a bushfire at a national park in NSW.
