The Australian bushfires

Fight against bushfires continues in Victoria and NSW

Firefighters in Victoria and South Australia have gained the upper hand on most of the bushfires burning out of control, but storms have increased the fire threat in New South Wales.

Radio NZ,

19 January, 2014

South Australia's Country Fire Service (CFS) says at least 15 houses have been lost in blazes across the state this weekend, and it may take some days before the total damage is known.

The ABC reports there are 11 fires still burning out of control across the state, but the CFS is most concerned about fires in the Barossa Valley near Truro and one near Bangor in the Flinders Rages.

The Bangor fire is still burning out of control between Melrose and Wirrabarra on Sunday and has burnt almost 20,000 hectares there.

The Eden Valley fire, east of Angaston, is still going and has moved to within three kilometres of Truro.

The tourist town of Halls Gap in Victoria's west is reopening to the public on Sunday, as crews continue to work on a large bushfire burning out of control in the northern Grampians.

The blaze has burnt through more than 50,000 hectares, killed thousands of sheep and destroyed about 10 homes.

The CFA says the main threat to Halls Gap and Grampians Junction has now passed, and residents are returning their properties to assess the damage and reopen local businesses to tourists.

Lightning sparks fires in NSW

Fire crews in New South Wales are battling a number of fires, including a big blaze in the Riverina in the state's south.

More than 80 fires are burning in the state, the largest of which is in the Murraguldrie State Forest near Wagga Wagga.

So far it has burnt more than 7,300 hectares and five homes have been lost around the intersection of the Tumbarumba and Billabong Roads.

Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says he is alarmed by the number of fires which are breaking out because of lightning strikes.