Check out this photo of the fires from space:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/0201/04/graphics/fsnap8.jpg
"NASA's satellite image proves the full ferocity of the bushfires. The red marks indicate the position of the fires generating the huge plumes of smoke rising from the eastern seaboard. The fires form a ring around the city, which stands out in tan against the surrounding green vegetation. Photo: AFP"

Some more photos of it are here.

Oh, and the people Jag is referring to are BridgeClimb, who charge $125+ for the privilege.

While melbourne fiddles Sydney burns *yawnz*