Richard Moxham has been luckier than most in Sassafras, but this year's nut crop is likely gone and there are questions over how many trees have survived.
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The NSW Rural Fire Service says dozens of buildings, including several properties, were destroyed in the Currowan busfire near Nerriga and Sassafras.
The full extent of the number of homes that have been destroyed may not be known for some time, as building teams are still assessing the damage.
Mr Moxham and Alison Saunders run Sassafras Nuts, a commercial chestnut and walnut farm located at Sassafras in the Budawang Ranges. It was established in the early 1980s and had more than 1000 chestnut trees and several hundred walnut trees.
"We were able to visit our property yesterday. It is a seared landscape. There are only various shades of black," Mr Moxham said.
"Sassafras was hit really bad by the fires. In our personal circumstances, we have been luckier than most, but that means our house and main outbuildings, such as the packing shed are still OK.
"It looks like the walnut crop is gone because it had a firestorm right over it. I am not sure what is going to happen to those walnut trees at this stage, I am seeking advice from others in the industry.
"The chestnut trees are in reasonable shape but they were flowering at the time, so I wouldn't think a firestorm like that would help with the pollen flow. It is difficult to say.
"We all need rain desperately. Some of our irrigation is down and it will take time to get it back up again. The fencing is down as well."
Mr Moxham said the things lost in the fires could be replaced and he was more concerned about his neighbours.
"These are things that we can rebuild over time so are reasonable optimistic going forward but we are concerned about our neighbours in Nerriga and Sassafras, where I know at least a dozen or more homes have been lost," he said.
"Some historic buildings at Sassafras, like the old post office and the old farmhouse on the road, have been lost. This has changed the look of the community forever and it is sad because we all all appreciate historic buildings in the landscape, so it is a shame that they have gone."
He praised the Rural Fire Service.
"We are grateful for what we have come through with. The Nerriga and Sassafras communities are resilient and they will go on, but it is a difficult time right now.
