Australia has been battling hundreds of blazes since September in an unusually prolonged summer wildfire season that was fueled by three years of drought, which experts have attributed to climate change.

After a group of Quebec schoolchildren sent their support to firefighters in Australia, the gesture saw overwhelming gratitude from Australians.

The Australia Bushfire Relief Benefit Concert is set to take place on Sunday at 5 p.m.

One researcher says the wildlife death toll will likely rise, as animals that survive the fires might find they have little food left in their razed habitat.

Some 29 people and millions of animals have been killed so far in the burning bush in Australia -- a country famous for its pristine beeches, abundant wildlife and open-air sporting events.

The fires that have been burning since September have put Australia's unique population of birds, reptiles and mammals such as koalas and kangaroos at risk.

The new rains, which are expected for the next four to five days, bring hope that some of the fierce wildfires razing the country will be extinguished - or at least slowed.

A review of 57 scientific studies by a team of British academics concluded that global warming is leading to an increase in hot, dry weather around the world that creates the conditions for wildfires to take hold.

Australia has endured months of bushfires that have left more than two dozen people dead and razed land roughly equivalent to the size of South Korea.

Crews battling Australia's wildfires said Sunday that they have been able to turn from defence to offence for the first time in weeks thanks to a break in the weather.