The moment a Fire and Rescue truck was overrun by the bushfire burning South of Nowra

Thousands are facing a harrowing New Year's Eve night on the beach in NSW after out-of-control bushfires suddenly flared up this morning and were blown east.

Police have confirmed a father and son have died trying to defend their home from the devastating Cobargo fire that almost completely destroyed the historic NSW village. A 72-year-old man is missing at Belowra in NSW.

Fire also threatened Batemans Bay, on the NSW South Coast, with the town now cut off from the outside.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, who was killed when the Rural Fire Service truck he was in was hit by ferocious winds outside of Albury in the south of NSW.

Out-of-control fires are blazing in three states, with conditions set to worsen in some regions.

Follow our live blog on the NSW and Victoria bushfires below for updates throughout the night and into the morning.

In Victoria, 20 major fires continue to burn, four people are missing and thousands of homes have lost power as the Defence Force moves in to help evacuate people.

Multiple emergency warnings remain in place across East Gippsland, where fires have ripped through more than 230,000 hectares and dozens of homes are expected to be destroyed.

Black Hawk helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and naval vessels, including the HMAS Choules and the MV Sycamore, have been deployed, along with military personnel.

Read more here on Victoria’s fires.