Two properties have been destroyed, a property owner has been hospitalised and several firefighters have collapsed after what the RFS describes as a very challenging fire day in New South Wales.
Despite plummeting temperatures bringing a cool change across the state overnight, firefighters are warning the battle against the blazes is far from over.
The number of total fires burning across the state rose to 120 yesterday after a day of intense heat and wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres and hour - 26 of those fires were uncontained at 11 o'clock last night.
Disaster struck in the Bega Valley last night after a new bushfire west of Merimbula destroyed two properties and two sheds in the Millingandi area, bringing to 53 the number of properties destroyed in the NSW fires this year.
At Nowra, a rural property owner was taken to hospital after an "erratic" fire at Barringella Creek swept through a farm and destroyed a shed on the town's outskirts.
The RFS also says a number of firefighters have collapsed with heat exhaustion.
