A bushfire burns out of control and threatens homes near the town of Shallow Bay on Australia's east coast on Friday (September 27), the ABC reported.<br/> <br />Local media reported the Rural Fire Service as saying that the fire is spreading in a north-westerly direction.<br/> <br />Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters dumped water on spot fires to assist firefighting crews on the ground.<br/> <br />The Nine Network reported that up to 40 fires are burning across the state of New South Wales, fire crews are not able to contain 18 of them.<br/> <br />Firefighters were also working on a fire further north that closed parts of the Pacific Highway on Thursday (September 26).
