Farmers battle a fire near Cassilis in the central west of New South Wales. Credit:Nick Moir That bushfire, which the RFS has called the Sir Ivan Fire, had burned about 41,650 hectares by Monday morning and was not yet contained.The active fire edge around the blaze is an estimated 200 kilometres. NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said preliminary assessments suggested the town of Uarbry had been "heavily impacted" by fire. "I would suggest most buildings in the community of Uarbry are damaged and/or destroyed," he said. Uarbry consists of only about a dozen buildings, most of which were no longer standing, residents claimed.

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has lashed out at accused firebugs. Credit:Edwina Pickles Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the RFS also had received reports of property losses west of Port Macquarie and near Mudgee. He said two firefighters were out protecting other people's properties when their own homes went up in flames. One of those firefighters was an RFS captain from Uarbry, while another volunteer was battling a blaze near Dondingalong when she lost her home. Livestock was relocated from a property near Coolah, as smoke from the Sir Ivan fire east of Dunedoo loomed. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Two firefighters also was injured on Sunday: one who suffered a deep cut to the hand; and another who suffered serious burns to his hands, arms and face.

"I've spoken to the firefighter [who suffered burns], he has returned my call from hospital, which was a wonderful sign. He has indicated he will be transported to Sydney today for specialist burns treatment," he said. Farmers battle a lightning strike fire which was started by the mammoth blaze west of Cassilis. Credit:Nick Moir Despite the property and stock losses, Commissioner Fitzsimmons said it was extraordinary no lives were lost. "To come away with no life lost or serious injury is just outstanding. My sincere appreciation goes out to each and everyone involved," he said. Farmers battle a fire that started with a lightning strike near a larger blaze west of Cassilis. Credit:Nick Moir

As firefighters across the state battled the extreme conditions, three people were arrested after allegedly lighting fires in NSW. The arrests prompted an outburst from Commissioner Fitzsimmons, who slammed the alleged offenders - males aged 13, 32 and 40 - for the "heinous crimes". NSW RFS crew members from Cumberland Strike Team take a well earned rest after a long day of fighting a large grass fire burning towards the small township of Wollar in the greater Hunter region. Credit:Wolter Peeters "How dare they," he said. "You put the lives of our firefighters at risk. How dare anybody add to the extraordinary conditions we're experiencing."

At least one farmer, Warren Jarvis, reported that his house was "totally gone" when a fire raced over the hill near his property near Cassilis and went "mad". "My house and all my property is totally gone. Three greyhounds, other cats, all my chooks, probably my sheep and cattle," he said. On Monday morning, the two biggest fires - the Sir Ivan Fire, to the east of Dunedoo, and at Kains Flat, south of Kempsey - were both at Watch and Act level. That is one level below an emergency warning, and means there is still a heightened level of threat and conditions are changing. Sir Ivan Fire The RFS said the Sir Ivan Fire was not contained and was moving north towards Leadville and Coolah. It had already burned 41,650 hectares of land by early on Monday morning, the RFS said.

"The fire is currently burning to the east of Dunedoo moving in a northerly direction towards Black Stump Way, Leadville and Coolah," a RFS spokesman said. "Although conditions are easing, people in the area should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bushfire survival plan. "People in the areas of Leadville, Turill, Cassilis and Coolah should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bush fire survival plan. "Follow the directions of firefighters in the area. Telecommunications may be disrupted in the area due to power outages." Kains Flat fire

The Kains Flat fire, north-east of Mudgee, was out of control and moving in an easterly direction just before 6am on Monday. "Conditions in the area have eased throughout the evening diminishing the level of fire activity," the RFS spokesman said. "Firefighters are actively defending properties under threat. "If it is your plan to leave, or if you are not prepared to stay, people in the area around Wollar and Cumbo, including Mogo Road and Araluen Lane, should leave now towards Bylong. "People in the area around Wollar and Cumbo should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bushfire survival plan."

Other fires downgraded Six other major fires - near Kempsey, near Taree, to the west of Wauchope, north of Gloucester, north of Ballina and south of Boggabri - had all been downgraded to "advice" level by Monday morning, meaning there was no immediate danger to properties or residents. On Monday morning, about 90 fires were still burning across the state. The fire danger will remain very high on Monday in the Greater Hunter and surrounding fire areas, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Neil Fraser said. But he said no part of the state would face severe, extreme or catastrophic conditions. The southerly change that swept through NSW on Sunday afternoon cooled conditions considerably. Loading

Sydney's Observatory Hill had its coolest night since mid-December, dropping to a low of 18.3 degrees at 5.30am on Monday. - with AAP