Blackened trees line Braidwood Road for kilometres while the post-apocalyptic scene is made all the more eerie with a smoke haze lingering over the road.
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The only signs of wildlife are dead carcasses on the bitumen.
Emergency service vehicles pass the blacked out signs, fence posts and poles as the road remains closed.
That's the scene left in the wake of the devastating Currowan fire.
The fire, west of Nowra, is about 136,000 hectares and has continued to burn out of control for weeks.
Fire crews have been working around the clock to contain the blaze.
Firefighters spent Monday strengthening containment lines as they prepare for 'extreme' 38 degree temperatures and low humidity on Tuesday.
Shoalhaven RFS superintendent Mark Williams said a significant focus for the RFS was the backburning operation on the eastern line of the fire and to keep the blaze west of the Princes Highway.
On Monday afternoon firefighters were backburning near Bamarang Dam and plumes of smoke could be seen a few hundred metres from Shoalhaven River.
Fire and Rescue HAZMAT crews were called to investigate three 44 gallon drums potentially dumped off Braidwood Roads, about five kilometres west of Nowra.
Crews had to wear full HAZMAT suits to clean up the leaked substance with them regularly swapping out as it was hot and hard work.
The material will be tested for contamination.
Meanwhile, the Green Wattle Creek fire has burnt about 230,000 hectares since November 26 in the Wollondilly, Wingecarribbee, Upper Lachlan and Oberon local government areas.
It has a perimeter of more than 1000 kilometres and is not contained.
Firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft, were patrolling and mopping up across the fire ground on Monday ahead of expected deteriorating conditions on Tuesday.
Illawarra RFS district officer Patrick Grady said one strike team had been deployed to Hilltop to help with mopping up the fire ground for the Green Wattle Creek fire whilst another team arrived back from a three-day stint at Lithgow.
"On Tuesday, one strike team has will be deployed to either down south or Wollondilly," he said. "If any areas are hit hard then we have identified 10 trucks to deploy.
Two other strike teams will be on standby locally. From 1pm, every brigade will be up and running.
"We have to manage volunteers' fatigue. The peak southerly wind front and radical weather change including thunderstorms are planned for the afternoon, so crews will be available from then."
He said the usual hotspot locations including Helensburgh and Berkeley would be patrolled by local brigades.
Mr Grady said the emergency operations control centre, including liaisons from all relevant agencies would be at the Illawarrra RFS headquarters at Albion Park from 10am.
There is a total fire ban in place and Mr Grady reminded people, ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations, that only gas barbeques that are clear from combustible material can be used.
Barbeques that use solid fuel such as heat beads and wood are prohibited.
Residents should also check the oil tray.
No bonfires, campfires or fireworks are permitted
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