A fire that claimed the lives of two people in northern NSW has been declared out, but firefighters are still battling 74 blazes across the state.
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After a weekend of hot and windy conditions just one bushfire was left classed as a watch and act by the RFS on Sunday.
The blaze at Kangawalla east of Glen Innes was declared out of control by authorities on Sunday afternoon, with firefighters managing to bring two others burning in northern NSW under control.
The fires - one of which burned through more than 2600 hectares in the Darawank area, north of Forster-Tuncurry, and a separate fire in Tuncurry which jumped a river and began spotting close to town - were declared under control on Sunday evening.
At midday on Sunday some 85 fires were burning across the state with 45 not contained, but by early evening that number had been downgraded to 74.
"Crews have worked tirelessly today protecting homes and slowing the spread of fire," the RFS said in a statement posted to Twitter.
"Right now [74] fires continue to burn with more than half yet to be contained. There is weeks of work ahead without the prospect of any meaningful rain."
The RFS said it received reports of damaged or destroyed properties on the 90-odd firegrounds across the state on Saturday.
Fire activity increased over the weekend under the influence of erratic winds, the RFS said in a statement.
After more than a month of burning, the RFS declared the Long Gully Road fire near Drake was finally out on Sunday.
The fire, which began on September 5, burnt through more than 74,000 hectares, destroyed 44 homes and killed two people.
Australian Associated Press
