04 January 2020, Australia, Melbourne: People arrive at the Somerville Recreation Centre in Somerville south-east of Melbourne after being evacuated. Photo: Julian Smith/AAP/dpa

04 January 2020, Australia, Sydney: An aeroplane flies to drop water on a bushfire in North Nowra, 160 km south of Sydney. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa

04 January 2020, Australia, Bairnsdale: A street sign providing direction for those affected by bushfires and in need of support is seen at Bairnsdale, Victoria. Photo: James Ross/AAP/dpa

05 January 2020, Australia, Canberra: The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge at Lake Burley Griffin is surrounded by clouds of smoke caused by the devastating bush fires in the early morning. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP/dpa

A general view of fire damage on Kangaroo Island, Monday, January 6, 2020. A convoy of Army vehicles, transporting up to 100 Army Reservists and self-sustainment supplies, have arrived on Kangaroo Island as part of Operation Bushfire Assist at the request of the South Australian Government. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) NO ARCHIVING

Batemans Bay New Years Eve bushfires in Australia on december 31, 2019. Witness commentary : It was upon us without warning; the night before I walked through the beach carnival and could see the fire in the mountains in the distance. I had a terrible feeling that everything might go to hell, and that the people screaming and laughing on the rides, and winning prizes in the sideshow alley, had no idea what was in store... I had a knock on my hotel door early morning that the fire front was rapidly approaching.I ran to the beach, and handed out the spare P2 masks I'd bought just the day before. People were terrified, huddled together, trying to take shelter on the beach. Then the bush on the beach caught fire, the sky was deepening red and black, and I ran back to my hotel room to take shelter from the heat. It was like being in the centre of hell. Photo by Megan Juresa/ABACAPRESS.COM

Batemans Bay New Years Eve bushfires in Australia on december 31, 2019. Witness commentary : It was upon us without warning; the night before I walked through the beach carnival and could see the fire in the mountains in the distance. I had a terrible feeling that everything might go to hell, and that the people screaming and laughing on the rides, and winning prizes in the sideshow alley, had no idea what was in store... I had a knock on my hotel door early morning that the fire front was rapidly approaching.I ran to the beach, and handed out the spare P2 masks I'd bought just the day before. People were terrified, huddled together, trying to take shelter on the beach. Then the bush on the beach caught fire, the sky was deepening red and black, and I ran back to my hotel room to take shelter from the heat. It was like being in the centre of hell. Photo by Megan Juresa/ABACAPRESS.COM

Batemans Bay New Years Eve bushfires in Australia on december 31, 2019. Witness commentary : It was upon us without warning; the night before I walked through the beach carnival and could see the fire in the mountains in the distance. I had a terrible feeling that everything might go to hell, and that the people screaming and laughing on the rides, and winning prizes in the sideshow alley, had no idea what was in store... I had a knock on my hotel door early morning that the fire front was rapidly approaching.I ran to the beach, and handed out the spare P2 masks I'd bought just the day before. People were terrified, huddled together, trying to take shelter on the beach. Then the bush on the beach caught fire, the sky was deepening red and black, and I ran back to my hotel room to take shelter from the heat. It was like being in the centre of hell. Photo by Megan Juresa/ABACAPRESS.COM

Batemans Bay New Years Eve bushfires in Australia on december 31, 2019. Witness commentary : It was upon us without warning; the night before I walked through the beach carnival and could see the fire in the mountains in the distance. I had a terrible feeling that everything might go to hell, and that the people screaming and laughing on the rides, and winning prizes in the sideshow alley, had no idea what was in store... I had a knock on my hotel door early morning that the fire front was rapidly approaching.I ran to the beach, and handed out the spare P2 masks I'd bought just the day before. People were terrified, huddled together, trying to take shelter on the beach. Then the bush on the beach caught fire, the sky was deepening red and black, and I ran back to my hotel room to take shelter from the heat. It was like being in the centre of hell. Photo by Megan Juresa/ABACAPRESS.COM