Scorching heat baking Australia eased yesterday granting a brief respite from the bushfires raging across New South Wales and South Australia.
It comes after a horror few days for the country where 180 homes were destroyed and three people - including two firefighters - were killed.
They died while on duty in the area of the Green Wattle Fire southwest of Sydney.
Cooler conditions are giving fire crews some reprieve but they're warning against complacency, especially with conditions predicted to worsen after Christmas.
RNZ's correspondent in Sydney is Scott Levi.
