Wildfires

Wildfires - Australia

Structures have been destroyed by an out-of-control bushfire southwest of Port Macquarie, the NSW Rural Fire Service says. The blaze, which was raging in the Innes View area, west of Comboyne, blackened about 950 hectares in hot and windy conditions on Sunday afternoon. Dozens of firefighters and water-bombing aircraft attempted to get the flames under control and warned residents they would see smoke and possibly embers.

At 5pm Sunday, there were nearly 100 grass or bushfires burning across NSW and 29 were not contained.

A bushfire alert in Victoria's east has been downgraded but nearby residents need to remain vigilant about the out-of-control blaze, emergency officials say. Residents near the small East Gippsland town of Orbost had been told earlier on Monday to evacuate their homes as fire crews battled the fire east of the town. But fire conditions eased by 11am.