Temperatures have dropped nearly 20 degrees in parts of Australia, which is expected to help firefighters who are trying to combat blazes across five states.

Nine people have been killed since the bushfire emergency started in September, with at least 700 homes destroyed.

Today alone, 98 bush and grass fires are burning in New South Wales, with 50 yet to be contained. The town of Balmoral was all but destroyed at the weekend.

Kathryn speaks with Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science at the University of Tasmania, David Bowman.