Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighters watch as the New South Wales 'Mega' fire, which measures 1.5 million acres, approaches the outskirts of the small town of Tumbarumba in the Snowy Mountains, NSW. Since blazes broke out in September, Australia has seen unprecedented bushfires destroying nearly 11 million hectares with at least 29 people loosing their lives. It is estimated that more than 1 billion birds, mammals and reptiles, many unique to Australia will have been affected or killed.