After two months of back-breaking work, firefighters have managed to contain the extensive Green Wattle Creek blaze.
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The bushfire damaged many homes, buildings and properties throughout Wollondilly and Wingecaribee shires.
It wiped out more than 40 homes in Wollondilly, the Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) took to its Facebook page last night to announce that the massive blaze was now under control.
"The Green Wattle Creek Fire, which has burnt through over 278,700 hectares in the Wollondilly area, south-west of Sydney is now contained," the post said.
"Since this fire started on the 27th November 2019, it has been challenging; burning though some very difficult terrain, destroying property and tragically seeing the loss of life.
"It is a huge achievement to reach containment tonight.
"Thank you to all those who have worked so hard for months to get to this point."
The containment comes just hours before NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a bushfire inquiry on Thursday, saying it was crucial to "leave no stone unturned".
The inquiry, which will begin this week, will be conducted by two experts over a six-month period and will take submissions from the public.
Climate change, hazard reduction burns, drought, and human activity will be considered.
Illawarra fire crews will be on high alert on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as temperatures in the low 30s and windy conditions in Wollongong will increase the fire danger.
RFS Southern Highlands public liaison officer Jonty Bruce said it was a relief to have the massive blaze contained.
"There is still a lot of work to be done at the site of the fire but we have a good edge around it now," he said.
"Crews are still out there patrolling the edges, looking for any hot spots or smoking logs."
Mr Bruce said although the danger for residents was reduced it was important to remain vigilant.
"As we all know it can take just a hot and windy day for conditions to change," he said.
"Residents, particularly on the southern end of the fire, should still be ready to put their bushfire plans into action should conditions change.
"The fire is not out - we are relying on significant rainfall to put out parts of the fire that are inaccessible to us but we will continue to keep a close eye on the fire ground."
Mr Bruce said volunteers had done "amazing work" over the past few months.
"There are plenty of words to say about how amazing the efforts of our volunteers are," he said.
"They continue to patrol the fire even though they have been working on it for two months now."
Two firefighters were killed while on duty at the massive Green Wattle Creek bushfire in December last year.
Deputy Captain Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, died when their truck rolled and a tree fell onto the cabin on Wilson Drive, Buxton.
Both firefighters were from the Horsley Park Brigade.
Three other passengers - aged 24, 26, and 43 - were able to free themselves from the truck and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Liverpool Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended Mr Keaton and Mr O'Dwyer's funerals.
