Bushfires in southeast Australia have destroyed over 300 buildings, including more than 70 houses, and razed vast areas of farmland and native forest. Authorities confirmed the first death from the disaster near Longwood, Victoria, as temperatures exceeded 40 C. While conditions eased on Sunday, allowing firefighters to gain control, a state of disaster was declared previously. Hundreds of firefighters are working to contain the blazes, which have burned over 300,000 hectares.