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A volunteer firefighter has died and two others suffered burns as they rushed to tackle Australia's raging bushfires.

The victim, from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS), was killed when two trucks rolled over as emergency services battled an "out of control" fire spanning 2,000 hectares, on the border with Victoria.

The RFS said the vehicles were overturned by extreme winds, which are fuelling the catastrophic blazes.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted his sympathies to their families of the victims, writing: "Devastated at the terrible news of the loss of another volunteer firefighter... and two others injured.

Queensland and NSW Bushfires - In pictures 3 show all Queensland and NSW Bushfires - In pictures 1/3 Reuters 2/3 Reuters 3/3 Reuters 1/3 Reuters 2/3 Reuters 3/3 Reuters

"These are testing times. We are so grateful for the courage and dedication of our firefighters."

It comes after tourists and residents were ordered to flee the fires, with some people in southeastern Australia urged to shelter indoors because it is now “too late” to evacuate.

Around 40,000 holidaymakers were told to leave popular tourist hotspot East Gippsland, in the state of Victoria, after it was deemed "unsafe" for them to remain in bushland areas.

But the region’s mayor John White said "a lot of holidaymakers" had decided to ignore the warning and stay put, and that there had been "no mass exodus" despite authorities’ strongly worded pleas.

A number of emergency warnings have since been issued for the area and main roads, including the busy Princes Highway, have been closed.

Those who stayed behind have been warned to take shelter and not attempt the 200-mile journey out because "they should not be on the roads" and risk getting trapped in the fires.

Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp warned that if visitors weren’t gone by 9am local time (10pm UK time), there would be "every chance" they won’t be able to leave at all.

He has since stated that it is now "too late to leave", with his agency adding that they will not be able to provide aid to everyone.

More than a dozen blazes are currently raging across the East Gippsland countryside, some so intensely that hundreds of firefighters were ordered to retreat from a fire front stretching an estimated 1,000km (600 miles).

Another 16 fires were sparked by lightning in Victoria overnight, bringing the total number of fires burning to 97, with 43 of those not contained.

Mr Crisp urged those in affected areas to read emergency warnings carefully because evacuation may remain an option for some.

He said on Monday: "This is a high-risk day for Victoria. This is a day we do not often see. Our state is dry, it is going to be very hot, it is going to be very windy. People get out now, if you don't, you've got to stay across the conditions and listen to those warnings during the day."

It is the latest emergency in Australia’s devastating summer fire season, which has been fuelled by a record-breaking heatwave and prolonged drought.

At least ten people have been killed, more than 1,000 homes destroyed and more than 4.6 million hectares – an area larger than Belgium – have been scorched as the fires tear across four states.

The warm weather is rapidly spreading into New South Wales, with temperatures expected to spike on New Year's Eve as hundreds of thousands of people gather on Sydney harbour to watch its iconic firework display.

There was speculation the spectacle would be called off after the RFS declared a total fire ban across 11 areas in New South Wales, including Greater Sydney.

However, the RFS granted the organisers of the multi-million dollar display an exemption from the total fire ban after The City of Sydney argued: “Cancelling the event would seriously hurt Sydney businesses.”

The event, which costs about £3.2 million ($6 million AUD), brings in about £69.3 million ($130 million) from tourism and is watched by one billion people worldwide, the council said.

Yesterday Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted the fireworks would go ahead at midnight on January 1, despite the fire danger in the area being classified “very high”.

He said: “On New Year's Eve, the world looks at Sydney. Every single year. And they look at our vibrancy, they look at our passion, they look at our success.

"And so in the midst of the challenges that we have face, subject to the safety considerations, I can think of no better time to express to the world just how optimistic and positive we are as a country."

However, New South Wales MP John Barilaro reiterated calls for its cancellation due to the risk being "too high".

He tweeted: “Sydney’s New Years Eve Fireworks should just be cancelled, very easy decision. The risk is too high and we must respect our exhausted RFS volunteers.

“If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let’s not have two classes of citizens. We’re all in this crisis together."