Bush fires rage through southern Australia

Thousands of acres of land have been destroyed by bush fires in Australia but latest reports claim that fire fighters are beginning to get the blaze under control in some of the most threatened areas.

The fires have been raging across four states; New South Wales and western Australia have been affected but the worst hit areas were in Victoria and Tasmania in the south of the country.

Around 20 homes in Tasmania have already been destroyed by bushfire, according to local reports and last night Danny Reid, Tasmanian Fire Service spokesman, said that conditions were "that bad there was nothing to be done", the Associated Press reports.

However, the latest news from ABC is that fire fighters are currently taking advantage of mild weather and fending off the flames.

John Gledhill, chief fire officer, told the news provider that he expects no further damage to occur to property in St Mary's, where emergency services are tackling the front lines of the fire.

"I can assure people that at this moment, there is nothing, nothing anticipated in the area of St Mary's as far as threats to houses."

Bushfires are commonplace in the long, hot Australian summer but the latest disaster was thought to be brought about by an extended drought.