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.