As many as 300 firefighters worked well into Monday night attempting to set up containment lines as conditions eased with light rain and a cool change.
But there’s little reprieve for the Rural Fire Service (RFS) with almost 30 fires still burning across the state.
The most serious are in the Hawkesbury, the central coast and near the town of Junee in the state's central south.
Fire chiefs want to get the blazes under control as weather forecasters have warned dangerous conditions will return.
"It's going to take us about four days to get round all these fires and mop them up," NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg said.
Premier visits family
NSW Premier Morris Iemma and Commissioner Koperberg visited one family who lost their Phegan’s Bay home on Sunday to the bushfire.
Premier Iemma told the family “your courage is an inspiration”, while the family thanked the firefighters who risked their lives while taking on the blaze.
Mr Iemma also paid a visit to the Rural Fire Control Centre at near Kariong.
In a briefing he was told 652 houses had been directly threatened during Sunday's firestorm with 800 firefighters deployed at its height.
Arsonists tracked
In the past two days bushfires have raged in the state’s central coast and south-west destroying at least eight homes and devastating farmland and livestock.
A St John’s Ambulance volunteer, Mike Rozier, 64, died of a suspected heart attack on Sunday, while helping people evacuate on the central coast.
A 21-year-old firefighter also remains in a critical condition in a Sydney hospital, suffering third degree burns to 60 percent of his body.
The young firefighter was trapped in his tractor at the side of a road when fire ripped through the township of Junee.
A total fire ban has been declared in the upper central western plains and lower central western plains, and a ban also remains in force for the Greater Hunter area.
Premier Iemma has confirmed that police are tracking 30 known and suspected arsonists.
Mr Iemma said the arsonists were under surveillance by a network of police, firefighters, family and friends.
He said anyone convicted of arson could face a 14 year jail term.
Mr Iemma said the cause of all the fires was still be investigated.
Assistance pledged
Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile has
expressed his sympathy to the victims of bushfires raging across the country since the weekend.
Speaking on ABC radio he said every support the federal government can offer will be made available.