Fires are still burning in the NSW South Coast town of Eden where hundreds of residents were evacuated from as the blaze closed in.

Smoke can be seen billowing from the Border Fire which has scorched 271,000 hectares since igniting west of Victorian town Mallacoota.

Some residents were allowed to return to their homes on Sunday, but the full extent of the devastation is yet to be revealed.

A fire is still burning in Eden, on the NSW South Coast. (9News)

Earlier, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed two people are missing after a weekend of catastrophic fire conditions.

Ms Berejiklian said authorities have been unable to access a number of communities due to dangerous conditions.

"There has only been a small percentage of properties that have been able to be accessed at this point, that work continues today and of course we also need to take into consideration the terrain and also the safety of our own workers who have to go into the areas," she said.

Some residents have veen allowed to return home. (9News)

Fire crews douse smouldering wreckage. (9News)

"This morning is all about recovery, it's about making sure that people who have been displaced have somewhere safe and it's also making sure that we have resources to start building up that presence on the ground to clean up the roads, clean up where the rubble activity exists to allow communities to start rebuilding which is so important."

There are still 130 fires burning across the state with 54 not contained, however all fires have been reduced to advice level, helped by favourable weather conditions.

Despite relief from rain and cooler temperatures, three infernos still threaten to form a mega blaze on the NSW/Victoria border, leaving a 72-hour window for firefighters to tackle the fire front before temperatures rise again on Thursday.

"We can expect to see a combination of the hot conditions and westerly winds coming out of the centre of the state resulting in probably severe fire danger ratings along the back end of the ranges and in parts of the central west," RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.



An aerial shot of the devastation. (9News)

Batlow is one of the hardest hit areas in NSW. (9News)

Many apple orchards are believed to have been destroyed in Batlow. (9News)

At least sixty homes were destroyed in Saturday's blazes, taking to 576 the number lost since New Year's Eve.

The RFS expects hundreds more will be confirmed lost in coming days, as assessment teams who have been kept at bay by flames have been able to reach the hardest-hit towns.

Areas thought to be worst effected included Bundanoon, Wingello, Batlow, Adelong, the Jervis Bay area, Boydtown, Kiah, Wonboyn, Towamba and Cabramurra.

Some homes lost were in the Southern Highlands after a flank of a massive 400,000-hectare fireground stretching as far south as Batemans Bay jumped the Shoalhaven River.

In the far south, Eden residents were able to return to their homes on Sunday as crews continued to battle the Border Fire which has scorched 271,000 hectares since igniting west of Victorian town Mallacoota.

"We are comfortable for people to be in their homes at the moment," RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers told the ABC.

He said he was content for the community to be given some time to recover, after a "rough" day and night.

"There is an enormous amount of fire in that part of the world, these are not going to go out for some time," he said.



Another aerial shot of a Batlow property destroyed in the bushfire crisis. (9News)

Batlow devastation after Dunns Road fire (9NEWS)

Remains of a burnt-out property in Bruthen South, Victoria. (AAP)

"We have been dealing with the fires non-stop now for more for five months and I can't see that changing over the next month.

"It makes you think ... just where that will end."

Fire danger ratings today will be high or low-moderate across much of the state, with only parts of the state's north experiencing "very high" risk.

The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting some showers to cooler conditions across fire grounds in the state's south.

"Though not a huge amount, that (rain) should slow down the fires," duty forecaster Jake Phillips told AAP late on Sunday.

Some early forecasts for later in the week show warmer conditions, with warm northerly winds expected to cross the west on Thursday and reach the east on Friday.

"It doesn't look as bad as Saturday or New Year's Eve but it's definitely something we'll be watching closely," Mr Phillips said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has acknowledged NSW is in "unchartered territory" and can't pretend the fires are something experienced before.

More than a million hectares have burnt in Victoria alone. (AAP)

"The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're going, the way in which they're attacking communities who've never ever seen fire before, is unprecedented," she said on Sunday.

Early on Monday, more than 130 bushfires were burning across NSW, including more than 60 uncontained. Two were subject to a watch-and-act alert.

Eighteen people, including three firefighters, have died in the NSW bushfires since October.

At least 1482 homes, 100 facilities and 2339 outbuildings such as sheds have been confirmed destroyed across NSW since July.

Close to 20,000 buildings have been saved.

Victoria

Four people remain unaccounted for in Victoria and more than 100 homes confirmed destroyed as firefighters prepare for "unpredictable" conditions despite some rainfall.

Showers and cooler temperatures have brought firefighters much needed relief after a weekend of battling severe fire fronts across the state.

However, authorities have warned of a "very concerning" threat that still looms.

Four people remain unaccounted for in Victoria and fires still pose significant threat. (AAP)

David Bruce, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Metropolitan Fire Brigade said the north-east of Corryong, Victoria's alpine region and through to the Victorian-New South Wales Border is of "grave concern". "We will be looking to consolidate, put in any fire breaks and look at informing communities to make sure that they're ready in the event that the fires are close to them," Mr Bruce said.

He said 110 homes have been confirmed lost, but that number is expected to rise as impact assessments teams gain access to the hardest hit areas today.

South Australia

A total fire ban has been declared across Kangaroo Island as Country Fire Service (CFS) crews race to quell areas still burning ahead of deteriorating conditions this week.

Aerial footage shows part of the luxury Southern Ocean Lodge on South Australia's Kangaroo Island after it was destroyed by a bushfire. (Nine)

Communities remain on high alert today with a new Watch and Act alert being issued today for the Ravine bushfire.

The federal government has set up a task force consisting of 80 Australian Defence Force personnel who have now arrived on the island as the state government appointed wildlife official Mike Williams to lead the recovery.

Two lives have been lost with outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his 43-year-old son Clayton Lang killed when their car became trapped by flames near Parndana.



Here's how you can support those impacted and assist organisations proving relief for communities hit by the disaster.

Red Cross

The Red Cross is supporting thousands of people in evacuation centres in Victoria and New South Wales.Donations also go toward emergency assistance, long-term recovery programs, essential costs, psychological first aid, supporting volunteers and covering their expenses and helping families and communities prepare for disasters.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross click here .

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army offers a range of services including financial assistance, emotional wellbeing and support services and information, referrals and advice for those in need.If you would like to donate to the Salvation Army click here .

St Vincent de Paul Society

Vinnies is on the ground helping people as they deal with the immediate aftermath of fires, and we will continue to be there as they rebuild their lives in the long term.With your support, Vinnies can:

Provide food, clothing, essential items and grocery vouchers for people who have lost everything

Pay unexpected bills as people work through the recovery process

Make referrals onto a range of other organisations providing crisis accommodation and specialised services

Give much-needed emotional support, as well as practical assistance to pick up the pieces after homes are lost

If you would like to donate to Vinnies, click here .

NSW RFS

Donations made directly to the NSW RFS are for the benefit of volunteer brigades and can help provide extra resources for firefighters and volunteers on the ground protecting homes and lives.If you would like to support your local brigade or the NSW RFS click here .Please be aware that the organisations make it clear that while all support is appreciated, distributing large deliveries of clothing and other items can be difficult in a disaster.Monetary donations are often the most helpful and can assist organisations in providing essential resources to families and communities in need.

VICTORIAN CFA

You can donate directly to the Victorian Country Fire Association here. Those wanting to donate can do so to a specific brigade, or in general.

VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE APPEAL

The Victoria Government is calling for cash donations, rather than tangible items, so it can better assist those in need.The government has launched an appeal with Bendigo Bank to help raise funds.It says 100 per cent of donations will go to communities directly in need, in additional to the rescue and rehabilitation of local wildlife.You can donate here .

SOUTH AUSTRALIA CFS

South Australia's Country Fire Service (CFS) has a number of ways to donate.There is a specific fund for the Kangaroo Island fire, as well as the government's donation disaster recovery fund.Details can be found here .

WIRES