The burnt area statewide now covers more than 1,650,000 hectares — more than during the past three bushfire seasons combined.

NSW RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said 476 homes had been destroyed, with firefighters on Sunday tackling 56 fires, 27 of which were uncontained.

During last year's season, 37 homes were destroyed.

And in the previous most severe bushfire season, which was 2013-14, 248 homes were lost over the entirety of the period — about half of the current tally.

Of this season's total so far, 367 homes have been destroyed since the latest blast of harsh weather began on November 8.

The update came as NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott announced new funding for residents and local councils affected by the bushfires in the fire-hit region of Kempsey.

A $220,000 package will got to BlazeAid, the volunteer organisation that helps rural families rebuild buildings and fences.

The NSW Government said $100,000 of that would be used to directly purchase fencing materials and tools, and $120,000 would go towards local councils to help BlazeAid with its work.

The State Government said it had already allocated $160,000 to affected local councils, supporting a clean-up operation for more than 200 landholders.

BlazeAid has base camps set up in Casino, Tenterfield, Ewingar and Ebor.

The RFS's Building Impact Assessment teams found at least 577 outbuildings had also been destroyed.

On Sunday evening, the Gospers Mountain fire north-west of Sydney was the only fire still listed as watch and act.

Fire crews were using the milder conditions on Sundady to strengthen containment lines ahead of a return of hot, dangerous conditions on Tuesday.

Temperatures are expected to climb up into the 40s in some areas but Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned people firefighters may not be available in some areas.

"There is no guarantee that a resource will be at every place that's likely to come under threat from these fires," Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

Deputy Commissioner Rogers said controlled burning was being undertaken around homes threatened by the Gospers Mountain blaze.

He said firefighters were scrambling to draw containment lines before weather conditions deteriorated again.

Five total fire bans were in place on Sunday including the Hunter, Far North Coast, New England, Northern Slopes and North Western regions.

Source | ABC