NSW's fire boss has criticised the Prime Minister, saying he was blindsided by the announcement 3,000 army reservists would be sent to help recovery efforts.

Key points: The Rural Fire Service Commissioner said logistics around the extra resources would be complicated

The Rural Fire Service Commissioner said logistics around the extra resources would be complicated The RFS says "hundreds" more homes have been destroyed by blazes yesterday

The RFS says "hundreds" more homes have been destroyed by blazes yesterday Four firefighters were taken to hospital, and a 47-year-old man died after suffering a heart attack

Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said Scott Morrison's office had not told him about the extra resources, which he found out about via media reports.

Mr Fitzsimons said while he was thankful for the support, logistics would be complicated.

"I was disappointed and frustrated in the middle of one of our worst days with massive dislocation and movement of people," he said.

"I had my conversations with the Prime Minister's office."

Mr Morrison announced on Saturday afternoon that 3,000 ADF reservists would be brought in to help with bushfire recovery efforts as well as $20 million for leasing four firefighting aircraft.

Firefighters leave Narooma station headed to help fight the blazes threatening the area. ( ABC News: Tim Swanston )

Follow our live blog for the latest updates on bushfires.

Federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds defended the move to leave the RFS out of the decision to deploy personnel, saying the information had been passed to the Premier.

Speaking on Sunday morning, Mr Morrison admitted there had been a "breakdown in communications" but any issues arising from that had been addressed.

Asked whether Australians could have faith in his leadership following a series of negative events, Mr Morrison said he was aware there has been "plenty of criticism".

"But I can't be distracted by that and the public, I know, are not distracted by that. What they need us to focus on, all of us actually, [is] focusing on the needs in the communities and getting the support where it needs to go," he said.

He added that there had been a "lot of blame being thrown around".

"Now is a time to focus on the response that is being made. Plenty of people have blamed me, people have blamed the Greens," he said.

"Blame doesn't help anybody at this time and over-analysis of those things is not a productive issue.

"The appropriate exercise at the moment is coming together."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 13 seconds 1 m 13 s Eden evacuated amid bushfire emergency

The RFS said hundreds of properties had been damaged by blazes around the state over the weekend, as Sydney and Canberra set new temperature records.

Predictions of a bushfire nightmare came true and more than a dozen emergency warnings were issued as flames tore through several areas.

Mr Fitzsimmons said there was widespread destruction and "we can expect to see property damage probably number in the the hundreds".

Emerald Adams, Katarzyna Krilov and Lachlan Reilly take shelter with their goat Hansel in Narooma. ( AAP: Dominica Sanda )

The Southern Highlands, Snowy Mountains and South Coast were the worst-affected areas, while the mercury at Penrith reached 48.9 degrees Celsius — a new record for the Sydney basin.

A new temperature benchmark was also set in Canberra (44C).

Mr Fitzsimmons said a 47-year-old man had died after suffering a cardiac arrest in Batlow.

Four firefighters were also injured on Saturday and taken to hospital, but have since been released.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 42 seconds 42 s Residents have been urged to seek shelter as this fast moving burns at Currowan

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was in "uncharted territory".

"The extent of this bushfire season in living memory, and many experts have been around much longer, who fought fires and observed circumstances, all agree, we're in uncharted territory," she said.

"How people interpret that is to them. As the Premier of this state, our state is facing a difficult time ahead."

NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean urged people to cut their power use after bushfires destroyed two electricity substations, sparking supply issues.

The RFS at a roadblock at North Nowra in Shoalhaven. ( AAP: Mick Tsikas )

This home at Surf Beach, near Batemans Bay, was razed yesterday. ( ABC News: Antonette Collins )

A statewide total fire ban is in place in NSW and while conditions have eased, moderate winds are expected to fan more than 160 blazes around the state.

RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said firefighters would take advantage of favourable weather.

"We have to start the process of getting some sort of containment on these fires," he said.

Firefighters battle a blaze at Numbugga, about 15km from Bega, yesterday. ( ABC News )

Celebrities took to social media to raise money, with pop star Pink — who said she was "devastated" by the fires — chipping in $500,000.

A Facebook post by comedian Celeste Barber sparked millions of dollars in donations.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance, whose electorate of Bega has been among the worst affected by fires, compared the blazes to "an atomic bomb".

"I've got to be honest with you, this isn't a bushfire, it's an atomic bomb," he told ABC Radio Sydney.

"It's indescribable the hell it's caused and the devastation it's caused."