Shane Fitzsimmons

Nine people have been killed in recent months by the fires

Firefighters have warned the blazes will rage until significant rainfall arrives – which could be months away.

The “mega-blaze” is now covering more than 300,000 hectares – an area the size of greater Sydney.

As fires threaten Sydney, the nation's deputy prime minister dismissed “raving inner city lunatics” over concerns that climate change could be worsening the disaster.