A small town in central western NSW has been "all but wiped out" in a bushfire that ravaged the area, a resident claims, as firefighters continue to battle more that 80 blazes burning across the state.
The immediate threat to property from bushfires was downgraded early on Monday morning following cooler and calmer conditions overnight, but firefighters have warned the danger period is not yet over.
More NSW News Videos
- Video duration
- 01:00
'My house is totally gone'
'My house is totally gone'
Homeowner Warren Jarvis has lost property and animals to a large fire impacting the township of Cassilis in central west NSW.
- Video duration
- 01:28
'Prevention is far better'
'Prevention is far better'
After her cervical cancer diagnosis, Jo Wallace has made sure her children don't miss the Human Papillomavirus vaccine.
Up Next
One dead, four injured in Southern 80 race
- Video duration
- 00:36
- Video duration
- 00:36
One dead, four injured in Southern 80 race
One dead, four injured in Southern 80 race
A father of two has been killed and four others injured in the annual Southern 80 water-ski race on the Murray River.
Up Next
Why science needs women
- Video duration
- 03:05
- Video duration
- 03:05
Why science needs women
Why science needs women
Scientists Dr Devanshi Seth and Dr Shweta Tikkoo are tackling gender inequity and unconscious bias through the Women in Science group at Sydney's Centenary Institute.
Up Next
Siblings in hospital after Bankstown window fall
- Video duration
- 00:26
- Video duration
- 00:26
Siblings in hospital after Bankstown ...
Siblings in hospital after Bankstown window fall
A five-year-old girl is in a critical condition in Westmead Children's Hospital after she and her younger brother fell from a third-storey window at South Terrace, Bankstown.
Up Next
NSW bushfires: multiple homes impacted
- Video duration
- 04:14
- Video duration
- 04:14
NSW bushfires: multiple homes impacted
NSW bushfires: multiple homes impacted
NSW RFS say a number of homes have been impacted by the by the Sir Ivan fire east of Dunedoo in the state's central west. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.
Up Next
NSW prepares for unprecedented fire conditions
- Video duration
- 03:12
- Video duration
- 03:12
NSW prepares for unprecedented fire ...
NSW prepares for unprecedented fire conditions
New South Wales and southern Queensland face another day of extreme conditions, with temperatures again exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some parts. (Video courtesy: ABC News 24)
'My house is totally gone'
Homeowner Warren Jarvis has lost property and animals to a large fire impacting the township of Cassilis in central west NSW.
Dozens of properties are believed to have been damaged or destroyed, but the NSW Rural Fire Service said it could not provide a precise figure until Building Impact Assessment Teams inspected fire-ravaged areas on Monday to determine the extent of the loss.
A resident of the small town of Uarbry, east of Dunedoo, told the ABC that the town had been "all but wiped out" in a bushfire on Sunday. That bushfire, which the RFS has called the Sir Ivan Fire, had burned about 41,650 hectares by Monday morning and was not yet contained.
Related Content
Uarbry consists of only about 12 buildings, most of which were no longer standing, residents claimed.
As firefighters across the state battled the extreme conditions, three people were arrested after allegedly lighting fires in NSW.
The arrests prompted an outburst from Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who slammed the alleged offenders - males aged 13, 32 and 40 - for the "heinous crimes".
"How dare they," he said.
"You put the lives of our firefighters at risk. How dare anybody add to the extraordinary conditions we're experiencing."
At least one farmer, Warren Jarvis, reported that his house was "totally gone" when a fire raced over the hill near his property near Cassilis and went "mad".
"My house and all my property is totally gone. Three greyhounds, other cats, all my chooks, probably my sheep and cattle," he said.
Just before 6am on Monday, the two biggest fires - the Sir Ivan Fire, to the east of Dunedoo, and at Kains Flat, south of Kempsey - were both at Watch and Act level. That is one level below an emergency warning, and means there is still a heightened level of threat and conditions are changing.
Sir Ivan Fire
The RFS said the Sir Ivan Fire was not contained and was moving north towards Leadville and Coolah. It had already burned 41,650 hectares of land by early on Monday morning, the RFS said.
"The fire is currently burning to the east of Dunedoo moving in a northerly direction towards Black Stump Way, Leadville and Coolah," a RFS spokesman said.
"Although conditions are easing, people in the area should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bushfire survival plan.
"People in the areas of Leadville, Turill, Cassilis and Coolah should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bush fire survival plan.
"Follow the directions of firefighters in the area. Telecommunications may be disrupted in the area due to power outages."
Kains Flat fire
The Kains Flat fire, north-east of Mudgee, was out of control and moving in an easterly direction just before 6am on Monday.
"Conditions in the area have eased throughout the evening diminishing the level of fire activity," the RFS spokesman said.
"Firefighters are actively defending properties under threat.
"If it is your plan to leave, or if you are not prepared to stay, people in the area around Wollar and Cumbo, including Mogo Road and Araluen Lane, should leave now towards Bylong.
"People in the area around Wollar and Cumbo should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bushfire survival plan."
Other fires downgraded
Six other major fires - near Kempsey, near Taree, to the west of Wauchope, north of Gloucester, north of Ballina and south of Boggabri - had all been downgraded to "advice" level by Monday morning, meaning there was no immediate danger to properties or residents. On Monday morning, about 90 fires were still burning across the state.
The fire danger will remain very high on Monday in the Greater Hunter and surrounding fire areas, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Neil Fraser said. But he said no part of the state would face severe, extreme or catastrophic conditions.
The southerly change that swept through NSW on Sunday afternoon cooled conditions considerably.
Sydney's Observatory Hill had its coolest night since mid-December, dropping to a low of 18.3 degrees at 5.30am on Monday.
- with AAP