Australia’s leaders have been criticised for failing to borrow firefighting planes from the US and Europe to battle the wildfires blazing out of control across swathes of the country.

Thousands of people swarmed to beaches on Australia’s east coast to escape fierce wildfires in apocalyptic conditions threatening seaside towns, as the government prepared naval vessels and military helicopters to aid firefighting and evacuations.

But high winds along the eastern coast were said to be hampering efforts to use aircraft to dampen the flames.

As the New Year arrived, more than 200 fires were burning across the southeastern states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, prompting emergency warnings. Some 68 blazes were not contained, according to the rural fire service.

Jon Dee, founder of environmental charity Planet Ark, said the US Forest Service had eight firefighting planes available on 24 hours’ notice but the Australian government had not asked to borrow them. “Why are we not using these planes in the current bushfire crisis?” he tweeted.

The Independent has contacted Australia's department of the prime minister and cabinet, and the department for home affairs, for comment.

NSW fire and rescue commissioner Greg Mullins said $11m (£5.8m) provided by the federal government to boost aerial firefighting earlier this month was “smoke and mirrors” and “too little too late”.

Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the state of New South Wales on 31 December 2019 AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billows from a huge bushfire that has torched over 200,000 acres of land in East Gipplsand, Victoria on 2 January EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Residents look on as flames tear through bushland in Lake Tabouriee, Australia on 4 January on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage behind Lake Conjola on 2 January Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter tackles a bushfire in East Gippsland, Victoria on 31 December EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter gives water to a parched koala in Cudlee Creek, South Australia AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters tackle a blaze as it tears through a farm in New South Wales on 21 December AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky is turned red over East Gippsland as fires continue to rage through Australian bushland on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A kangaroo near bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures An aerial view of a bushfire near Bairnsdale State Government of Victoria/EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters work to tackle a blaze on the outskirts of Sydney on 31 December 2019 Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter dumps water on a bushfire on the outskirts of the town of Bargo near Sydney Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Children play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A satellite image of the Batemans Bay showing smoke and fire from wild bushfires European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Data via REUTERS Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The afternoon sky glows red from bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Burning embers cover the ground as firefighters battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria Jonty Smith via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The remains of burnt out buildings along a main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters try to protect homes around Charmhaven, New South Wales NSW Rural Fire Service/AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale Glen Morey via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Business owners stand in front of their shop which was destroyed by a bushfire in Cobargo EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter dumping water on a fire in Victoria's East Gippsland region Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Think smoke from bushfires fills the air in eastern Gippsland Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures "Carmelised" snow caused by dust from Australian bushfires is seen near Franz Josef glacier in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland, Victoria. More than 800,000 hectares have been burnt in East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Fire clouds are formed over the mountains' range near Bredbo, New South Wale, Australia December December 31, 2019. Picture taken December 31, 2019. LIFES.A.BREEZE via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. LIFES.A.BREEZE LIFES.A.BREEZE via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke and wildfire rage behind Lake Conjola Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A house and van are seen destroyed after bushfires ravaged the town of Bilpin, west of Sydney AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter fighting a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region State Government of Victoria/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Fire and Rescue personal run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Amy, left, and Ben Spencer sit at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter sprays foam retardant on a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Two bushfires approach a home located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property damaged by the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield, Victoria EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property under threat from the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The main street of the New South Wales town of Bombala is pictured shrouded in smoke from nearby bushfires AFP via Getty

He also claimed dozens of aircraft were mothballed in the northern hemisphere that could be available “in a week”, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

“What I and 29 other former chiefs are saying is that with longer and overlapping fire seasons it is just very clear that we are going to run out of large aircraft,” he said.

“They should be looking at these scooping aircraft because Croatia, Italy, France, Portugal and Canada have all got them, and they are all in mothballs in winter. There are dozens of them and they are cheaper than jets.

“If they [the government] wanted to make an impact, just about every state and territory could have a couple of them if the government kicked the tin.

“They could get on to the Canadian government and I am sure they would be here in a week. They’d have as many as we want.”

He said some of the 100 Blue Mountains homes destroyed by bushfire could have been spared with greater aerial support.

However, in a sharp escalation in assistance, a day later the military sent air and sea reinforcements. Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews requested assistance from 70 firefighters from the US and Canada, and heavy-lifting helicopters headed to areas facing the greatest threat.

Mr Andrews said there were grave fears for four missing people. “We can’t confirm their whereabouts,” he said.

Two navy ships are also being sent to the region ready to evacuate hundreds of homes.

New Year’s Eve became the deadliest day of the state’s worst bushfire season on record when two men were killed trying to protect their home, bringing the death tally to 11 since the fires started in September.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a strong wind warning for Coffs Coast and Macquarie Coast, north of Sydney, warning revellers near the harbour to take care. The Herald said the winds had made it difficult to use aircraft to battle the many fires.

About 12.35 million acres of land have burnt nationwide since September, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed.

Some communities cancelled New Year fireworks celebrations, but Sydney’s popular display went ahead in front of more than a million people, despite the objections of some who said the cost was too high given the flames devastating parts of the country.

Stranded residents and holidaymakers were reported to be sleeping in cars on New Year’s Eve, while petrol stations and surfing clubs were transformed into evacuation centres.

Australia’s largest collection of primates, as well as giraffes, zebras and rhinos were saved as fire threatened a wildlife park. Zookeepers worked for hours to save Mogo Wildlife Park in the Batemans Bay area.

The crisis has reignited debate about whether prime minister Scott Morrison’s government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the world’s largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas.

Mr Morrison has repeatedly issued public thanks to firefighters and authorised extra payments to volunteer firefighters.

Defence minister Linda Reynolds said she had authorised three helicopters and an aircraft for Victoria, and two naval vessels to go to East Gippsland in Victoria.

"A joint task force has been stood up with army personnel and liaison officers," she added.