The South Coast remains on high alert due to expected extreme conditions over the next few days.
Illawarra Zone Rural Fire Service Superintendent Richard Cotterill said there was a high fire danger rating for the region, though he expected this to be upgraded to a total fire ban in the coming days.
"Around the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands we will see very dangerous fire conditions over the next few days - peaking tomorrow with very high temperatures and strong winds forecast," he said.
"During this time there is the potential for problematic fires and we would ask people not to use fires outdoors, whether they are camp fires or recreational fires.
"We would also ask everyone to be vigilant and if they see anyone doing the wrong thing - setting any fires, maliciously or carelessly - then to report it to the authorities or anonymously to Crimestoppers."
Mr Cotterill said an Illawarra RFS staff member, Inspector Michael Gray, had flown to Tasmania as part of the state RFS Bushfire Impact Assessment Team.
"This team of six will be travelling to areas in Tasmania which have suffered loss of buildings, like Dunalley, to investigate the likely causes," he said.
"This team has attended a number of major fires, like the Black Saturday fires in Victoria, and the results of their investigations will be used in the future to design and build safer properties in bushfire prone areas."
It has been a fairly quiet start to the fire season for the Illawarra, although Mr Cotterill said the expected long, hot summer could change that.
"We had a couple of early fires - at Bulli Tops and Budderoo National Park - and we had a fire at Burning Palms in the Royal National Park last week, but we have not seen any really significant bushfires," he said.
"However, I think it will be a fairly long fire season this summer, as there's not predicted to be a great deal of rain for the remainder of the season."
With two years of minimal bushfire activity and wet summers, Mr Cotterill said the Illawarra could be in for some "major fire activity".
"Right across the Illawarra and Southern Highlands there has been a lot of growth over the last couple of years in grasslands and forest areas," he said.
"We have been working with land managers to carry out a certain amount of hazard reduction, but there are areas with very high fuel loads, which constitute a very high fire danger."
Mr Cotterill said crews were on "a high level of alert" this week.
"Our workforce is made up of predominantly volunteers and a lot of them are on holidays from work at this time of year, so availability is good," he said.
Mr Cotterill reiterated that people living in bushfire prone areas should ensure their properties were constantly maintained, and that their bushfire survival plan was in place and up to date.