The Currowan fire on the South Coast was upgraded to watch and act on Friday afternoon and some residents are still being warned to monitor conditions and follow their bushfire survival plan.
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Temperatures near 40 degrees, strong winds and low humidity led to deteriorating conditions across the fireground and brought the blaze to emergency warning level on Thursday. The fire was downgraded to advice early on Friday morning.
The fire has burnt more than 120,000 hectares and has destroyed at least 16 properties
The fire danger level across the South Coast area has been labelled as high on Friday. Conditions are expected to worsen on Saturday.
The South Coast fire has forced the closure of the Kings Highway between Nelligen and Braidwood.
The Princes Highway was closed in both directions between Ulladulla and Lake Tabourie for more than an hour but was reopened to traffic just before 3pm.
Araluen Road is also closed to motorists from Moruya to Braidwood due to unsafe conditions.
Evacuation centres have been opened at the Ulladulla Civic Centre, the Country Club in Sanctuary Point and the Hanging Rock Sports Club in Batemans Bay.
Residents are advised to monitor the changing conditions, to follow their bushfire survival plans and to be aware of hazards such as falling, fire-damaged trees.
The fire had been burning for several weeks but escalated to an emergency level on Thursday afternoon and again in the evening due to extreme conditions on the firefront.
NSW fire authorities warned earlier on Thursday the Currowan blaze presented a major challenge for fire crews.
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Phil Paterson from the Rural Fire Service said there had been significant spotting from the fire near Government Bend on the Kings Highway.
"There's been a number of spot fires that remain uncontained because the terrain is quite steep," he said.
"We were hoping to get in aircraft but there's been a limited capacity because of poor visibility."
Spotting has also been seen to the west of the fire near Mongarlowe, however, no properties were under direct threat.
Previous backburning efforts near the western edge of the fire had to be abandoned on Thursday due to the deteriorating conditions.
A total fire ban has been declared across all of the state until midnight on Saturday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared a state of emergency on Thursday, which will last for seven days.
The Currowan fire is now just south of the Tianjara fire, which broke out on Thursday.
The Tianjara fire has affected parts of the Princes Highway and residents in Jerrawangola and Wandandian have been told it's too late to leave.
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
