A fireworks display over Sydney harbour on Wednesday evening has been described as "stupid" and insensitive given the bushfires.
The worst of the dramatic bushfire conditions that have plagued New South Wales eased on Wednesday evening, while several alerts remain in place for Queensland.
It comes after a horror few days which saw firefighters battle an "unprecedented" number of emergency level fires on multiple fronts.
The NSW Rural Fire Service posted an emotional tribute to its firefighters and members of the community on Wednesday evening. It was liked more than 1000 times.
Here's how Wednesday played out:
The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued a heartfelt thank you to the public after days of herculean effort battling bushfires across the state.
A total fire ban remained in place for New South Wales on Wednesday As of 10pm on Wednesday night there were 69 fires burning with 14 at Watch and Act alert level that continue to threaten property.
Over 1000 firefighters are still in the field with conditions expected to worsen later this week.
People have taken to social media to express their shock at a fireworks display in Sydney amid a total fire ban in New South Wales.
Bushfires have raged out of control along the News South Wales coast and hinterland with up to 17-emergency level fires over the last week. They have since been downgraded but many residents have evacuated their homes under threat of flames.
Despite the fire ban, Sydney residents reported a 20 minute firework display taking place over the harbour on Wednesday night, with many expressing shock it could have gone ahead.
The emergency warning for the fire burning at Buxton near Bundaberg has been downgraded to watch and act.
"Currently as at 8pm, the fire which jumped the Gregory River at Buxton is now burning within containment lines at Devils Elbow Road," QFES says.
"Buxton residents are allowed to return to their properties. Buxton Road has reopened."
The emergency warning for the Pechey fire near Toowoomba remains in place. The fast-moving fire is travelling in a westerly direction between Pechey and Hampton.
It is expected to impact Deeth Road, Lanyon Road, Williams Road, Pechey Forestry Road, Misty Mountain Road and the New England Highway in the coming hours.
The New England Highway is currently closed to the north of Munro Road.
The Courier-Mail reports that the pilot of the crashed waterbombing helicopter was seen walking around the craft after the incident.
He was assessed at the scene and taken to Toowoomba Base Hospital with minor injuries, QAS Senior Operations Supervisor Mark Hancock said.
The Bell 214B is owned by Sunshine Coast company McDermott Aviation. "The pilot's okay and that's all we are worried about at the moment,” managing director Simon McDermott told the paper.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it has been notified and "will gather further information into the circumstances of the accident ahead of deciding whether to launch a formal air safety investigation".
The fire at Noosa North Shore on the Sunshine Coast has been downgraded from emergency to watch and act.
There are now 79 fires across the state, with two emergency warnings and four watch and act.
One emergency warning is for the fire at Buxton, south of Bundaberg, which is part of the Woodgate/Walkers Point fire.
The other is for Pechey near Hampton, just north of Toowoomba. For residents in either of those areas, leaving immediately is the safest option.
A fire previously burning at emergency level on the NSW Mid Coast has been downgraded to a Watch and Act level.
The Hillville Rd fire at Hillville, near Taree, was downgraded after conditions eased in the area.
Residents in Burrell Creek, Bo Bo Creek, Hillville, Purfleet, Tinonee, Failford, Possum Brush & Old Bar are being told to monitor conditions.
A photo taken from a rescue helicopter last night captured the terrifying ferocity of the fires on the NSW North Coast.
Crews in a Westpac Rescue Helicopter were called to Maclean following reports of a woman requiring urgent transport to Lismore Base Hospital.
As they flew over the area they were met with the confronting scene of the fires below.
Because of the bushfires in the area the helicopter was the only option for transport.
Two bushfires are threatening lives and homes in the Geraldton area in Western Australia’s Mid West region.
Shortly after an emergency alert was issued for the southern part of Utakarra on Wednesday afternoon, another was issued for coastal Glenfield and neighbouring Drummond Cove.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services says lives and homes are in danger, with two homes reportedly already lost.
The Utakarra blaze is moving fast, and is out of control and unpredictable, while the other fire is moving in a south westerly direction.
Roads have been closed and motorists are asked to avoid the areas.
-AAP
An avocado farmer on the NSW mid-north coast is “well prepared” if a bushfire races towards his land but is worried that if his 6000 trees go up in flames it would take years to recover.
An out-of-control fire at Mount Coxcomb Road in was at “advice” level on Wednesday.
There are fears if it continues to run north it could impact Comboyne where Mr Debreceny is based.
There’s also a more serious “watch and act” fire at Rumba Dump southwest of the town.
“Everyone’s on guard, we’re well prepared, we have about 8000 litres of water,” the farmer told AAP on Wednesday.
It takes five years between planting and establishing a commercial avocado crop.
Picture: Zoe Phillips
Mr Debreceny has been “on duty” all day and most nights making sure embers don’t ignite his farm on the .
There’s a lot of pasture between him and the firefront to the south, meaning he’s confident he can suppress any threat to his property. But other avocado farmers could come to grief.
Mr Debreceny is also concerned about his bamboo windbreaks which would be “like a cracker going off if there was ever a fire”.
The avocado farmer – whose great-grandfather selected the land in 1904 – says the plateau is home to fertile soil with an average annual rainfall of about 1800 millimetres.
He hasn’t thoroughly checked the rainfall records but suspects 2019 is one of the lowest ever with just 450mm falling to date.
“We’ve been irrigating with the limited water we’ve got – I think we started in March and that’s a long time to be doing it,” Mr Debreceny said, adding February to April are usually the wettest months.
-AAP
A fire in Queensland's Bundaberg Region has been upgraded to emergency level and residents have been told to "leave immediately".
A fast moving fire is burning at Buxton between Woodgate Road and Burrum River.
The fire is travelling in a south, south-easterly direction towards Buxton.
"Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive," the QFES said.
"Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so.
"If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire.
"If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous."
Buxton residents should evacuate the area by heading west along Buxton Road.
Residents in a town in the Gympie Region have also been told to evacuate.
A large fire is burning in Kilkivan in the vicinity of the Des Simpson Memorial and is heading in a south-easterly direction towards Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road.
The fire is likely to impact Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road within 15 minutes.
"Those residents looking to self-evacuate should travel along Thornside Road onto Upper Widgee Road heading towards Gympie," QFES said.
"QFES alongside Queensland Police Service (QPS) are doorknocking in the area to ensure the safety of residents."
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