Bushfires are blazing out of control on opposite sides of the continent with homes threatened outside both Sydney and Perth.
Some residents have been told it's too late to leave as the out-of-control blazes burn closer to their homes.
Here's how Monday's firefighting efforts played out.
Updates
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Conditions across 118 firegrounds in NSW are beginning to ease, according to the RFS.
But the number of properties damaged or destroyed by bushfires raging across the state is set to rise after firefighters lost control of a backburn, inadvertently starting another blaze.
Conditions across 118 firegrounds in NSW are beginning to ease. Overnight conditions are expected to remain favourable allowing crews to work on containment lines. This photo is from crews staging at the Gospers Mountain Fire this afternoon. #NSWRFS#NSWFIRESpic.twitter.com/o8YGROMLcK
Up to 20 buildings – including homes – are feared lost after the backburning at part of the huge Gospers Mountain blaze northwest of Sydney spread out of control on Sunday.
Total fire bans are in place on Tuesday for the northwestern and northern regions where the fire danger rating will be “very high”. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe heatwave conditions for most of NSW throughout the week.
Another Emergency Warning for NSW
Another fire burning in NSW has been upgraded to Emergency Level this evening.
The blaze burning at Kelly Ride near Muswellbrook and Singleton is more than 52,000 hectares in size.
Fire activity is increasing in the Olinda, Nullo Mountain and Bogee areas and spot fires are starting ahead of the main fire front.
The fire is continuing to burn within the Wollemi National Park, Putty State Forest, and Coricudgy State Forest and is also impacting the areas of Gum Tree Hole and Kindarun.
It is spreading slowly towards isolated rural properties north of The Ovens and Bin Ben.
EMERGENCY WARNING – Kerry Ridge fire (Muswellbrook, Singleton and Mid-Western LGA) Fire activity increasing. If you are in the area of Olinda, Nullo Mountain and Bogee, watch out for embers that may start fires ahead of the main fire front. #nswrfs#nswfires#alertpic.twitter.com/6UEV0imNRS
As we head into the evening firefighters are continuing to battle more than 100 fires across NSW.
At 6pm there were nearly 120 fires burning across the state, with two at Emergency Warning at three at Watch and Act level.
Around 70 of the fires are yet to be contained.
Total fire bans are in place tomorrow for the Northern Slopes and North Western areas.
At 6pm there are 2 fires at Emergency Warning and 3 fires at Watch & Act level. There are nearly 120 bush & grass fires burning across the state, & around 70 are not yet contained. Tomorrow Total Fire Bans are in place for Northern Slopes & North Western areas. #nswrfs#nswfirespic.twitter.com/qxBeQxT9AH
Queensland Police have made an emergency declaration due to a bushfire burning near Gregory River in Queensland.
The eastern side of the fast-moving fire is travelling in a in a north-easterly direction towards Newlands Road.
The western side of the fire has impacted Childers Road and is now travelling in a north-westerly direction towards Elliot River State Forest.
The exclusion zone is bound by the edge of the Elliot State Forest along Childers Road, Voss Road, Newlands Road and Foleys Road.
Residents within the exclusion zone are urged to follow the advice of emergency services on the ground.
Childers Road is closed between Foleys Road and Pine Creek Road.
Members of the public are advised to avoid the area.
Fires hamper search after deadly plane crash
A pilot has died after crashing his light plane in a NSW national park.
Emergency services were called to the Kanangra-Boyd National Park near Oberon about midday on Monday after a distress beacon registered to a light plane was detected by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
A NSW Ambulance helicopter found the plane and a paramedic was winched down to the wreckage.
They found the body of the pilot, believed to be a man in his 70s.
Fires in the area made the search conditions difficult, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
A crime scene has been established and Police Rescue officers will retrieve the body.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Residents in Qld community told to leave immediately
Residents in the regional Queensland community of Mount Maria, about 75 kilometres north of Bundaberg, have been told to leave their homes.
A bushfire is fast approaching the community leading authorities to make the urgent call.
"Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive," the QFES said
An Emergency Warning has been issued for a large fire travelling in a westerly direction towards Mount Maria and is expected to impact Tableland Road, between Cross Road and Hills Road, shortly.
"The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community," the QFES said.
Residents located along Tableland Road between Seeds Road and Hills Road and along Whytallabah Road, Kirkpatrick Road, Mitchell Road, Cross Road and Lowmead Road should also prepare to leave.
People evacuating should travel north on Tableland Road and head towards Miram Vale.
Authorities have warned that conditions are now "very dangerous" and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
Emergency Alert issued regarding a bushfire warning from QFES. The message advises that there is a significant fire at Mount Maria. Those in the area are being asked to stay updated & see what action is required by looking at the latest warning at https://t.co/sLEm78d6UO
A blaze that is part of the terrifying NSW "megafire" has been upgraded to Emergency Warning level.
The fire burning at Gospers Mountain near the Hawkesbury area has already destroyed more than 378,000 hectares.
"The fire continues to burn on both sides of the Bells Line of Road, and is now burning in the Grose Valley," the RFS said.
"Yesterday fire activity increased with the fire jumping Mt Wilson Road and impacting the Berambing and Mt Tomah area."
The RFS has warned people in the Wolgan Valley area that it is "too late to leave" and to seek shelter as the fire front approaches.
EMERGENCY WARNING – Gospers Mountain (Lithgow & Hawkesbury LGA) Fire crossed Wolgan Rd & burning in Ben Bullen State Forest. If you're in Wolgan Valley area, it's too late to leave. Seek shelter as fire approaches. Protect yourself from heat of the fire. #nswrfs#nswfires#alertpic.twitter.com/MiLNkmOT4X
The fire has crossed Wolgan Road and is burning in the Ben Bullen State Forest and is moving quickly in a northerly direction.
The fire is burning approximately 6km north of the Bell, Newnes Junction and Clarence areas, with backburning operations continuing ahead of the main front.
For the Glen Davis, Glen Alice and Bogee areas the fire is still burning in a westerly direction within the Wollemi National Park.
There is active fire on the north western side of the village in the Putty area and has also passed through the Colo, Upper Colo and Colo Heights areas.
Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP
The fire is moving east towards Kurrajong and is approximately 20km west of the area.
The blaze has already passed through the Lower Macdonald, Upper Macdonald and Perrys Crossing areas.
Backburning operations are continuing in the Mogo Creek, Fernances, Bucketty areas.
ROAD CLOSURES:
Bells Line of Road is closed at the Mount Tootie Road intersection.
Putty Road is closed between south of Long Weeney Creek Trail and Milbrodale Road.
Comleroy Road is closed at Warrigal Road, Kurrajong.
Drift / State Mine Gully Road is closed.
Old Bells Line of Road / Clarence Road is closed.
Blackfellows Hands Trail is closed.
Emergency Warning for NSW fire
A fire burning out of control near Lithgow in the NSW Central Tablelands has been upgraded to Emergency Warning level.
The blaze is more than 1000 hectares in size and is burning in the area of Upper Turon Road in Palmers Oaky.
People in the area of Razorback Road, Cherry Tree Hill and Running Stream are being warned to watch out for embers that may start fires ahead of the main fire front.
EMERGENCY WARNING – Upper Turon Rd, Palmers Oaky (Lithgow LGA) Fire W Castlereagh Hwy & SE of Razorback Rd. If you're in Razorback Rd, Cherry Tree Hill & Running Stream areas, watch out for embers that may start fires. Monitor changing conditions. #nswrfs#nswfires#alertpic.twitter.com/1a5afGvY9q
Western Australia bushfire emergency hits sixth day
A bushfire emergency warning remains in place for areas north of Perth where an out-of-control blaze has been raging for six days.
The fire is still threatening lives and homes at Woodridge, Seatrees and Breakwater Estates but it is stationary and contained.
It has destroyed almost 13,000 hectares and is being battled by more than 300 firefighters, down from a peak of 400.
A bushfire in Yanchep, WA on December 12. Picture: DFES
They have worked in record-breaking heatwave conditions, with Perth sweltering through three consecutive days above 40C on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Temperatures are easing but there is still a high risk of flare-ups as winds strengthen.
One house was razed within the first few hours of the fire, a Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman confirmed.
A petrol station was also destroyed.
Western Power said more than 150 power poles and 10 kilometres of powerlines have been wiped out, and more than 250 properties are without power.
The utility has sent more than 70 workers to reconstruct the network. Evacuation centres have been set up at Gumblossom Community Centre in Quinns Rocks and at Granville Civic Centre in Gingin.
Community meetings will be held there on Monday and four schools in the area have been closed.
A watch and act alert is in place for some surrounding areas including Guilderton.
Homes destroyed after 'crucial' backburn goes rogue
The terrifying bushfire emergency that hit the Blue Mountains late last night happened after the RFS lost control of a "absolutely crucial" backburn, the volunteer fire service admitted.
At least 20 buildings are believed to have been lost last night as the megafire jumped containment lines.
Firefighters had been conducting hazard reduction burns along the southern edge of the Gospers Mountain fire – which has burnt close to 400,000 hectares of bush – when the flames spread.
“There was backburning in the area and unfortunately due to the conditions they’re burning in, it’s taken one ember to cross over the wrong side and that’s where it took a run and it was escalated to emergency warning and then we have had reports of homes lost in the area,” an RFS spokeswoman told AAP.
Reports have also surfaced that some firefighters out trying to protect their local communities instead lost their own homes to the megafire.
A firefighter continues to cool and protect the surroundings of the industrial shed destroyed this afternoon. Picture: Matrix
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, RFS spokeswoman Angela Burford described the risk of ember attacks on homes and spot fires as "the risk we take".
Embers jumped over containment lines on Sunday afternoon with spot fires quickly spreading to homes. An unknown number of properties were destroyed from Bilpin to Mount Tomah.
Mount Tomah Botanical Gardens also suffered damage from the fire.
The Gospers Mountain fire front could be seen from the botanical gardens. Picture: Matrix
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said it's possible "dozens" of buildings had been lost and described it as an "awful scenario".
“We have reports of dozens of building, structures having been damaged or destroyed,” he told The Today Show. “I am hearing reports that even our local members and it might be our local captain have lost their home last night trying to defend their local community so that's another awful scenario being played out."
A destroyed shed in the Blue Mountains region. Picture: Matrix
Commissioner Fitzsimmons later spoke to the ABC about the efforts to stop the fire crossing the Bells Line of Road but "unfortunately things don't always go to plan".
As of 12pm today, the fire was still active on both sides of the Bells Line of Road and is now burning in the Grose Valley.
The threat was downgraded as not having an immediate threat by Monday morning.
But authorities have warned there’s a risk that embers could fall in the Bilpin area, starting new blazes ahead of the main fire front.
“I’ve not seen fire to this scale… it’s unprecedented to see. We’re just shy of 3 million hectares… that’s burnt so far this season.” RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimons on fears that the homes of some firefighters were lost while they bravely defended their communities. #9Todaypic.twitter.com/THj6hlE8DK
Wild weather across Australia’s southeast this weekend has turned deadly – with police confirming a camper has died after being crushed by a falling tree.
