Fears of a catastrophe in Australia have eased as firefighters get to grips with more than 71 bushfires.
1,600 kilometers are still burning in the Blue Mountains area of Sydney however emergency services say they are getting to grips with the week long blazes.
But warnings have again been issued for people to be extra-vigilant
Emergency services say their worst fears have eased after 7 days fighting fires in the Blue Mountains region west of Sydney.
71 bushfires are still raging - 29 of them were uncontained
Officials say a high-risk strategy of aggressive backburning, building containment lines and strategic planning has paid dividends.