Fire danger ratings in New South Wales are expected to drop from catastrophic to very high today before temperatures rise again as the weekend approaches.
At its height there were 15 fires at emergency level in the Sydney and Hunter regions and the north of the state.
Several homes have been destroyed or damaged in the Hillsville blaze near Taree, and three properties were damaged in the Hunter Valley.
A number of firefighters were injured.
Sydney Morning Herald reporter Josh Dye speaks to Corin Dann.
