High temperatures and winds set off more than 100 fires across the eastern half of the state in extreme conditions for the start of spring - a warning for a tough fire season ahead.
As of Thursday morning, there were still 86 bush and grass fires burning in NSW, with 30 not fully contained.
One of the biggest blazes was at Woodlands, south of Batemans Bay, with several houses evacuated as flames reached up to 15m.
Other major blazes were recorded near Tuncurry, with 1700ha burnt, and at Richmond Vale in the Hunter.
Smaller blazes broke out in the western side of the divide at Warren, in the Warrumbungles and on Mt Kaputar.
The Rural Fire Service warned off a tough fire season ahead with much of NSW tinder dry from little rain in the last three months. The RFS brought the fire season forward in many districts of NSW to this month.