Hot conditions prolong fire fears across Tasman

The bushfire threat might have eased, but NSW firefighters are still hard at work backburning to prevent new flare ups.

But even as cooler weather provided relief for bushfire-prone areas, new fire bans have been declared ahead of an expected return of scorching conditions.

Almost 30 fires were still burning around NSW today, the most serious in the Hawkesbury region, the Central Coast and near the Riverina town of Junee.

Since Sunday about 2,400 hectares of bushland has been destroyed in the Brisbane Water National Park, north of Sydney, and another 35,000ha near Junee.

Three homes were lost at Phegans Bay, near Woy Woy, while hundreds of residents were evacuated on New Year's Day as near-record temperatures and strong winds sparked a bushfire crisis.

Drizzle helped ease conditions for firefighters yesterday but hampered backburning operations.

About 30 fire crews and five helicopters will be battling fires today at Woy Woy and Spencer.

Firefighters will also be deployed on containment lines to prepare for expected dangerous conditions tomorrow, while mopping-up operations continue to reduce the threat of further outbreaks in the event of another hot, dry spell.

A total fire ban has been declared for the upper central western plains and lower central western plains, and a ban also remains in force for the Greater Hunter area.

It was reported today that police were tracking 30 known and suspected arsonists.

The arsonists were under surveillance by a network of police, firefighters, family and friends, the newspaper said.

A St John Ambulance volunteer, Mike Rozier, 64, died on Sunday from a suspected heart attack while trying to help evacuees on the central coast.

And 21-year-old firefighter John Heffernan, a relative of NSW senator Bill Heffernan, remains in hospital after suffering third-degree burns to 60 per cent of his body while battling flames on his property near Junee.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg and Emergency Services Minister Tony Kelly will today visit bushfires visit areas of the Central Coast affected by the bushfires.

- AAP