Areas of Australia that have been ravaged by deadly wildfires experienced temporary relief on Wednesday, but oppressive conditions are expected to return this weekend.
About 5 million hectares of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with nine people killed and more than 950 homes destroyed. New South Wales, the country's most populous state, has received the brunt of the damage, with around 850 homes razed in the state.
About 2,000 firefighters and 400 firetrucks battled the blazes in more favourable conditions, but high temperatures are set to return. Sydney is forecast to hit 31 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while the city's western suburbs could reach 41 C . In his annual Christmas message, Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to the families of the two firefighters -- Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36 -- who died last week battling blazes southwest of Sydney.
"To Andrew and Geoffrey's parents, we know this is going to be a tough Christmas for you, first one without both those two amazing men," he said.
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