Hot winds are threatening to push fires into more populated areas of Australia on Saturday, including parts of outer Sydney.
Thousands are evacuating with temperatures expected to soar across New South Wales and Victoria.
What you need to know:
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday that Defence Force Reserves will be deployed to fire zones, the navy's largest ship will assist in coastal evacuations and AU$20 million is committed for four extra planes in case state premiers request their use.
- Since Monday, eleven people have died in both NSW and Victoria. Police confirmed on Saturday an additional two people had also died on Kangaroo Island, off South Australia.
- "Severe heatwave conditions" are expected through central NSW on Saturday, with temperatures ranging between the mid-30s and mid-40C
- The NSW Rural Fire Service says 137 blazes are burning across the state with more than 60 yet to be contained
- Emergencies and a state of disaster has been declared in NSW and Victoria
- More than 2000 firefighters worked overnight to prepare for the predicted severe and extreme fire danger on Saturday.
These live updates have now finished.
6:40pm - The Guardian reported that NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said fire projections they had this morning are "unfortunately" coming to fruition.
"We are in for a long night and I make no bones about that. We are in for a long night and we have still to hit the worst of it."
5:53pm - The NSW Rural Fire Service released a video showing the intensity of the Currowan fire, as it continues to burn quickly towards the coast.
5:27pm - The Age is reporting that an out-of-control fire in the Dargo region, rural eastern Victoria, could hit the town in the next few hours.
People are urged to leave the area and go south to Sale where there is a relief centre open.
An emergency warning has been reissued for the area.
5:21pm - The NSW Police Force has issued a reminder to the public to not fly drones in the vicinity of bushfire-affected areas or over other emergency operations.
"The current emergency situation is already dangerous for people, property and the environment, and police are reminding drone users that flying near an emergency can increase that danger," the statement said.
"If you fly - emergency services can't. You might be putting someone's life on the line."
5:13pm - Two further emergency warnings from the NSW Rural Fire Service have been issued, both for fires in Snowy Monaro.
People near the Adaminaby Complex fire and the Good Good fire are told it is too late to leave and to seek shelter as the fire approaches.
5:00pm - The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting there are major road closures for parts of the Princes Highway, Kings Highway and the Snowy Mountains Highway due to fires.
All entry and exit points to the Royal National Park just south of Sydney are also closed.
4:56pm - Fire activity is increasing in Victoria's Buchan and Buchan South, where an out-of-control fire is in burning in the Buchan Valley.
It is now too late to leave the area and the safest option is to remain indoors.
4:50pm - A fire-generated thunderstorm has formed over the Currowan fire creating a "very dangerous situation".
People in the area are being advised to monitor the conditions and take appropriate action.
4:42pm - The fire at Doubtful Gap Trail in Snowy Monaro, NSW is spreading quickly in a southeasterly direction towards Lake Eucumbene.
A southerly change is forecast for later today, which will push the fire in a northerly direction, the NSW Rural Fire Service said.
4:37pm - An emergency warning for the Currowan fire has been issued because it has crossed the Shoalhaven River. Residents are being told it's too late to leave.
4:33pm - A 7 News Melbourne reporter tweeted a video showing a thick, foggy orange sky smothering Mallacotta in East Gippsland, Victoria, where people were evacuated from on Thursday.
4:25pm - An emergency warning has been issued for Dunns Rd in Snowy Valleys, NSW because fire activity has increased in the area.
4:13pm - Newshub reporter Mitch McCann is in Moruya, NSW, where residents are getting texts to take shelter.
3:48pm - While Prime Minister Scott Morrison was answering reporters' questions after this afternoon's press conference, he was pressed on events in Corbago where a young woman recently tried to avoid shaking his hand.
"I understand her anger. As I said before ... my response to that - I was the first senior leader to go into Cobargo. And I understand the first person who is going to walk into that town was going to feel the anger and the fury and the frustration and the loss and the fear that was effort in that community," Morrison said.
"With the brigade captain at Cobargo, he was exhausted. I could see he was exhausted and he wanted to get back to the shed and have a rest."
3:35pm - The NSW Bureau of Meterology tweeted that conditions are deteriorating "quickly" in southern firegrounds due to the heat and wind.
3:26pm - The Age reported that areas which have already been burnt in fires could be affected by fire again in the coming hours, particularly East Gippland towns in Victoria.
An update from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning said there is "potential for a number of communities to be impacted today".
3:19pm - Morrison was flanked by defence minister Linda Reynolds at the press conference, who praised his "incredible leadership in this difficult time".
"This has been a whole-of-government effort from the very start. The co-operation at all levels of government, both federally and with the states, has been outstanding," she said.
3:10pm - Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a press conference the country is facing "another extremely difficult 24 hours".
He said the ferocity of the bushfires means the fire season may last longer than usual.
Morrison announced the Governor General this morning signed off for a call-out of Australian Defence Force Reserves to fire zones, to "search and bring every possible capability to bear by deploying army brigades to fire affected communities across Australia."
He also said the HMAS Adelaide, the navy's largest amphibious ship, will be deployed to assist in evacuations on the east coast.
A cost of AU$20 million (NZ$20.8 million) has been committed so four extra planes can be used to meet any anticipated future requests from state premiers.
Morrison ended his press conference by thanking state premiers for their assistance in the "difficult situation" the country is currently in.
2:51pm - The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the number of fires in NSW at a 'watch and act' level has risen to 12. This morning, there were only two.
2:29pm - Sydney is on high alert as flames threaten the outskirts of the city.
NSW rural fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says they're also concerned about old fires.
"It has the potential to spread to more populated areas," he told reporters.
2:12pm - There are now 16 evacuation centres open in NSW to affect bushfire-affected areas.
2:05pm - Police in ACT have charged a 20-year-old man allegedly behind a number of grass fires deliberately lit on Saturday morning.
A state of alert has been declared in Australia's capital, with a total fire ban in place.
"Anyone lighting a fire during total fire ban periods can face $32k in fines and/or imprisonment of up two years," ACT Police said on Twitter.
1:58pm - According to The Age, sixteen communities in Victoria remain isolated.
"Our concerns are that on days like today [Saturday] - given the extent of the fire front currently going, the dryness, the low humidity and fluky conditions - it makes firefighting really unpredictable," said State Control Centre spokesman James Todd.
"If you've got the opportunity to leave, get out now," Todd said, as reported by The Age.
1:28pm - Two people have died in the Kangaroo Island fire off South Australia, according to local media reports.
At a press conference on Saturday, police confirmed to reporters that two bodies had been found.
1:15pm - Newshub's Mitch McCann has spoken to a former Auckland man who lives outside the NSW town of Moruya.
Joe says he's staying to "defend" his home if the fire arrives.
12:21pm - Authorities say they now believe 21 people are missing in Victoria, The Age reports. It was originally thought 28 were unaccounted for.
11:59am - Australia Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said on Twitter that evacuations are continuing out of Victoria's Mallacoota by sea and air.
According to 9 News, the first vessel carrying evacuated residents has arrived near Melbourne - at Port Hastings.
"Defence is working tirelessly with emergency services and state authorities to support the firefighting efforts," Reynolds wrote.
11:52am - The Adaminaby Complex, in the Monaro region of NSW, is now under a "watch and act" warning.
"Fire is burning NW of Adaminaby and spreading quickly," the RFS said on Twitter.
"If you're in the area to the north of Adaminaby, you are at risk. It is too late to leave.
"Seek shelter as the fire approaches."
11:43am - Australian officials fear a change in wind direction could be devastating as they battle bushfires.
Weather in NSW is forecast to take a turn on Saturday afternoon, threatening to send a wall of flames in another direction.
The state's rural fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says it could lead to spot fires.
11:40am - Thousands of residents across both NSW and Victoria have been warned it's time to evacuate.
Newshub's Mitch McCann is in Australia and says even those outside the worst areas are on high-alert.
11:38am - Temperatures in some parts of NSW are already at 36C, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
11:29am - Victoria's Bureau of Meteorology says winds are expected to become gusty in the state on Saturday.
There are fears bush fires in NSW and the Victorian town of Corryong could merge amid the threats of worsening conditions.
"If you are in that area you should be getting out," said Victoria emergency management comissioner Andrew Crisp.
"This is very much about shared responsibility," Crisp said on Friday, as reported by the Herald Sun.
11:20am - According to 9 News, more than 3000 people will be on the ground to help tackle the fires in NSW on Saturday.
11:17am - Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said on Twitter that his thoughts are with tbose in danger areas on Saturday.
"We can't go on like business as usual," he wrote.
"This is a national emergency. It requires a national response."
11:06am - The NSW RFS has reiterated that Saturday will bring dangerous fire conditions across much of the state's south.
"Conditions will deteriorate quickly this morning," the RFS said on Twitter.
"If you are not already in a safe place, leave now."
11:02am - An "evacuate now" alert has been issued for those located in the Victorian towns of Bruthen, Bumberrah, Double Bridges, Mossiface, Ramrod Creek, Tambo Upper, and Wiseleigh.
10:54am - NASA has shared incredible satellite images, showing what the skies above Australia's southeast looked like on July 24, compared with January 1.
10:46am - Backlash continues to grow over the way Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison has handled the bushfire crisis.
Channel Nine political reporter Chris O'Keefe told the Today programme that frustrated residents are confused about who is in charge.
"It's frustrating them," he says. "They're asking for relief and they can't get it - it needs to be simplified and streamlined."
10:43am - Officials are begging residents in Australia's highest-danger fire zones to drop what they're doing and get out.
NSW has entered the three most dangerous hours of the day, with hot weather and wind forecast.
The state's rural fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says people cannot afford to wait.
"Leaving it to today [Saturday] is cutting it fine," he told reporters.
"The sooner you make that decision, the better, because the window will shrink and will shrink very quickly."
10:38am - There's also extreme fire danger in Australia's capital on Saturday.
ACT has been told to prepare for an emergency, the ABC reports, with a state of alert being declared by the local government.
10:27am - Some Australians have shared their stories of coming face-to-face with the terrifying bushfires.
Cassandra Toohey told The Guardian about her ordeal in the NSW central coast suburb of Blue Haven, where a fire broke out on New Year's Eve.
"I was in the bedroom when I heard several sirens all race down the road and I immediately started smelling smoke.
"It was terrifying. I had no way of leaving because all the cars were gone. I called my brother and my partner to tell them what was going on and they both immediately left to get back to me but found the roads were blocked. When they were able to get through I was extremely relieved," Toohey told The Guardian.
10:21am - According to The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is pressing people to leave the south coast, with the weather expecting to worsen later on Saturday.
"We ask people to keep listening to the warnings and all of the major road networks in NSW - Princes Highway and the Hume Highway is still open but we can't guarantee that beyond the next few hours," she said.
10:18am - The warning on Kangaroo Island has now lessened.
Almost the entire island was subject to a warning but ABC Australia reports that the island had woken to rain on Saturday.
10:04am - Incredible footage of a jet dropping fire retardant on one of the blazes is circulating on social media.
9:59am - The Navy has been called in to Victoria to evacuate at least 1000 people trapped in Mallacoota.
Resident Etienne van de Mendev says they're living in fear.
"It was like freight trains going through the sky; enormous noises," he told the BBC.
9:55am - NSW's emergency services minister has apologised for jetting off to Europe in the midst of the bushfire crisis.
David Elliott returned on Friday night and admitted his trip was inexcusable.
It comes a week after Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a similar apology for travelling to Hawaii with his family.
9:52am - About 100,000 residents in Victoria are being told to move to safety.
"In NSW the message is the same; fire authorities have said Saturday's blazes could be as bad as, if not worse, than those of New Year's Eve," the BBC's Shaimaa Khalil reports.
9:49am - Residents of Kangaroo Island just south of Adelaide are being told to seek refuge as a bushfire burns out of control.
Almost the entire island is now subject to a warning.
9:46am - There are fears bush fires in NSW and Victoria could merge amid the threats of worsening conditions.
The BBC's Phil Mercer says the trail of destruction that's been left in some towns is harrowing.
"Many trees are charred and the ground is a ghostly shade of grey."
9:44am - The BBC's Phil Mercer spoke to one man who has already lost his livelihood.
"He has six young children, and he left 20 minutes before his house was engulfed by the flames that raced up a nearby ridge," Mercer says.
9:43am - Dry lightning is threatening to spark new fires in Victoria.
Almost 50 fires burned through the night, but officials say they are keeping one eye on the weather with concerns for new flare-ups.
Nearly thirty people are missing in the state, and two are confirmed dead.
9:37am - A state visit to India by Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been called off.
During a phone call between PM's Shri Narendra Modi and Morrison, the pair agreed to push the visit to later in the year.
9:35am - Newshub's Mitch McCann says he's met a number of locals who have pitched tents and parked up near a local river seeking refuge.
On Friday night, they spent hours watching waterbombing sea planes picking up water from the river.
9:33am - Speaking from NSW, Newshub's Mitch McCann says much of the South Coast has awoken to a massive haze of smoke, with most people unaware of exactly what time high winds are expected to start coming in.
In the far south coast town of Moruya, the only coffee shop in town has been packed, as officials and locals prepare for what could be a big day.
9:20am - In a Twitter post late Friday, the RFS said southern NSW will experience dangerous fire conditions on Saturday.
Campgrounds throughout the city will not be open on Saturday due to the looming threat of bushfires, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Among those were the Royal National Park.
