NSW fire crews are bracing for worsening bushfire conditions with soaring temperatures and strong winds forecast after making the most of favourable conditions earlier in the week.
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The Rural Fire Service has placed total fire bans on 10 regions across the state on Friday before forecast hot and windy weather.
Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Grahame Reader says hot and dry conditions will fan fire behaviour on Friday with authorities concerned about a gusty southerly change expected in the afternoon.
"After a relative respite in the weather this week we are expecting another significant spike in conditions," he told reporters on Thursday.
"We will have hot and dry northwesterly winds and later in the day a vigorous southerly change will be moving through."
Temperatures could reach the mid-40s in western NSW on Friday with total fire bans in place in north western NSW, greater Sydney, central ranges, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, southern ranges, far south coast, Monaro alpine, southern slopes, eastern Riverina and northern Riverina.
An extreme fire warning is in place for the southern slopes while severe warnings have been issued for the Monaro alpine region, ACT, the southern ranges and eastern Riverina.
Bushfire weather across NSW is forecast to ease over the weekend.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said the navy ship HMAS Adelaide remains on standby off the Eden coast and is assisting fire authorities with refuelling and resupplying.
NSW fire crews have taken advantage of cooler conditions this week by backburning and strengthening containment lines before the forecast heat.
A waterbombing aircraft tasked to help contain the Clyde Mountain blaze near Batemans Bay crashed into a dam near Eden on Thursday.
The pilot, who was the only person onboard, escaped without serious injures.
Authorities, meanwhile, have confirmed that 1870 NSW homes have been destroyed since the start of the fire season, with more than 750 damaged.
More than 950 have been confirmed destroyed in 2020 alone.
Almost 200 facilities and 3774 outbuildings have also been razed.
Governor-General David Hurley on Thursday visited the bushfire-ravaged South Coast with his wife, spending the day with residents, volunteers and business owners in Moruya, Mogo, Malua Bay and Broulee.
Mr Hurley urged all those affected by the bushfires to look after their mental health and ask for help.
The couple stopped in at Mogo Zoo and several shops while urging Australians to support small businesses on the South Coast.
"One of the best and most practical ways we can help communities impacted is to support local businesses. That's particularly important for towns along the south coast which would normally be enjoying their busiest time of the year," Mr Hurley said in a statement.
The favourable conditions this week have helped energy crews restore power to most South Coast and Southern Highlands communities where bushfires caused widespread damage over the weekend.
The NSW government has also announced it will tip an extra $1 billion into bushfire management and recovery.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the funding would prioritise infrastructure repair and help stimulate fire-ravaged communities over the next two years.
More than 120 fires continued to burn across NSW on Thursday afternoon, with more than 2500 firefighters on the front line.
Since July, 20 people have died in the NSW bushfires, as well as 6200 livestock and millions of wild animals.
Australian Associated Press
