Total fire bans were in place for the greater Hunter – which is facing severe fire danger – greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, central ranges, northern slopes and north-western regions.
These regions and the far south coast, southern ranges and New England, as well as the ACT, had very high fire danger.
About a third of the 146 bush and grass fires were not contained by Sunday afternoon.
A 20,000-hectare fire burning just east of Canberra in the Tallaganda national park has been upgraded to “watch and act”.
The NSW Fires Near Me website says the North Black Range fire west of Braidwood in New South Wales had started to pick up about noon on Sunday.
Jembaicumbene, Bendoura and Majors Creek residents were told to leave and head towards Araluen.
The Rural Fire Service has warned of worsening conditions over the coming week. One regional command told residents that now was the time to talk to family about what to do when a bushfire hits.
“Know what you will do before the fire threatens rather than trying to wing it at the time,” the northern tablelands team posted to Facebook.
Meanwhile, a portable radio repeater providing critical communications for fire crews in northern NSW was so severely vandalised it is out of action.
Six tyres, two axles, two jerry cans and radio equipment were stolen from a marked trailer near Nymboida.
“This will potentially endanger fire crews working to protect life and property,” northern tablelands team posted on Saturday.
Grafton police are investigating.
