indication of a timetable for sending them to the senate, and right now there's no meeting for senate leaders on the schedule. a lot to come in the new year, whit. >> that's for sure. kyra phillips, thank you. next tonight, the wildfire catastrophe in australia, where the death toll has jumped dramatically. millions of acres, the size of connecticut and new jersey combined, now scorched. and concerns are mounting, not just for human life, but the wildlife, too. abc's maggie rulli is in australia. >> reporter: tonight, after battling some of the worst conditions these firefighters have ever seen, it's an all-out war to gain the upper hand on the wildfires that have destroyed 1,200 homes and scorched more than 12 million acres. the death toll rising to 18. >> all of my possessions have been totally incinerated. >> reporter: in the coastal town of mallacoota, 4,000 residents and tourists were forced to shelter on beaches. some taking refuge on boats. the sky dark with smoke as fierce winds pushed flames