Tuesday's heatwave has eased in parts of the state but areas of northern NSW are still experiencing hot and windy conditions exceeding 40 degrees, and more hot weather is expected to arrive over the weekend.
Rural Fire Service (RFS) deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said the fires that threatened homes in southern NSW would not be contained just because cooler weather arrived on Wednesday.
It will be an absolute battle to get containment on most of those fires before the return of the hot weather on the weekend," Mr Rogers told reporters at RFS headquarters on Wednesday.
"We'll inevitably get new fires on those days so what we want to do is minimise the number of fires we carry into a bad day."
The 2000 firefighters will focus on the fires they can contain and those that could threaten communities if they break out again on the weekend.
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A total of 141 fires continue to rage with 31 of those burning out of control.
Severe fire danger areas remain from the Hunter north to the Queensland border and as far west as the Moree area.
"We've got a huge swathe of New South Wales that potentially is going to get new fires again this afternoon," Mr Rogers said.
"But it's about minimising the impact on communities."
The Cobbler Rd fire, 18km west of Yass, in southwestern NSW, has torched 16,000ha as crews work to contain the blaze.
Locals have been advised to remain as the RFS has determined it is too late to leave the area.
Fifty-one trucks and 127 firefighters are battling the blaze and smoke can be seen as far away as Yass.
A fire west of Sussex Inlet, near Nowra on the south coast, has destroyed 4160ha and has an uncontained perimeter of 44km.
Four bulldozers are working to create fire breaks to get the upper hand.
Early reports suggest lightning started the fire.
The Bells Line of Road remains closed near Lithgow where 50 firefighters are working to contain a 100ha blaze.
Fifty firefighters, 15 trucks and three aircraft are involved in the operation.
There is no immediate threat to homes but crews are positioning
themselves between the fire front and local communities.
Another area of concern is an 8500ha fire in the Kybeyan Valley
in the Cooma-Monaro region where firefighters are protecting
isolated properties.
A farm owner that went missing in the area of a fire 13km east of Bungendore, near Canberra, has been found.
A small fire has also started west of Warragamba Dam, west of Sydney, has broken out in rugged terrain.
The RFS is monitoring the situation.
A statewide fire ban remains in place with many national parks, reserves and state forests closed to the public.
