A KANGAROO recovers with its burned feet in bandages as Australia’s bush fires rage.

It was hurt as flames swept through Bilpin, among the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

7 A kangaroo recovers with its burned feet in bandages as Australia’s bush fires rage Credit: Reuters

7 An estimated half a million animals have died, including 20 per cent of the koala population, since the fires began in September Credit: AP:Associated Press

An estimated half a million animals have died, including 20 per cent of the koala population, since blazes began in September.

The Australian Koala Foundation said the animals are "functionally extinct" as less than 50,000 live in the wild.

But the blazes have destroyed their habitat.

Meanwhile the death of a volunteer firefighter took the human death toll to ten.

More than 30,000 people were evacuated from East Gippsland, Victoria.

And residents in Melbourne faced dire warnings as the flames reached 10 miles from the city centre.

Meteorologists blamed a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, as the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia.

Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve firework display is still set to go ahead.

7 The death of a volunteer firefighter took the human death toll to ten Credit: AP:Associated Press

7 More than 30,000 people have been evacuated from East Gippsland, Victoria Credit: Getty Images - Getty

7 Residents in Melbourne also faced dire warnings as the flames reached 10 miles from the city centre Credit: Getty Images - Getty

7 Blazes have destroyed the habitats of animals Credit: Getty Images - Getty

7 Meteorologists blamed a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, as the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia Credit: AP:Associated Press

'No chance of escape' for up to 40,000 people including tourists who are told 'it's too late to leave'