Bushfire conditions on Australia’s east coast eased on Saturday after a tough night for firefighters, and authorities said they expect to have at least a week of milder weather where they can improve defences against the huge blazes still burning. A strong southerly wind change on Friday night, with gusts of more than 100 kph (60 mph) recorded, whipped a number of fires up to the emergency warning level, but by Saturday morning cooler temperatures and rainfall had eased conditions. “A lot of relief for a lot of communities really suffering at this time, but the next few days are (also) looking pretty good,” Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology told ABC News television. “Much cooler as well.” New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told a media briefing the respite was an opportunity to consolidate and try and get the upper […]