Firefighters are battling to save homes on the NSW South Coast as fierce winds fan a fast-moving fire that has doubled in size in less than 24 hours.
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The out-of-control fire north of Batemans Bay is burning across more than 16,000 hectares and is being pushed east towards coastal communities.
Residents face a nervous wait on Monday night as gusty, strong winds whip-up the blaze which remains at emergency warning level.
The NSW Rural Fire Service says it's too late to leave for those living between Kioloa and North Durras, including residents of Depot Beach, Pebbly Beach, Pretty Beach and Bawley Point.
An emergency warning remained in place for the fire on Monday evening.
"Winds have picked and the fire is burning in a northeasterly direction towards the area of Turmeil," the RFS tweeted.
"Firefighters are working in the area to protect homes."
Some communities were cut off when the fire jumped the Princes Highway on Sunday night.
Evacuation centres have been set up at Ulladulla and Batemans Bay.
Firefighters and aircraft, including large air tankers, have been working to slow the fire.
There is a significant amount of smoke in the area.
The Bureau of Meteorology says smoke is forecast to linger in parts of Sydney into Tuesday.
The heavy smoke blanketing the city is being blown from large bushfires in the Blue Mountains and near Warragamba Dam.
"It's likely to remain smokey tonight," the RFS tweeted.
There were some 125 bush and grass fires burning across NSW on Monday evening with 54 of these uncontained.
There was only one emergency warning - for the Currowan fire - while there were watch and act alerts for fires near Wollondilly, Singleton and Katoomba.
The out of control fire near Katoomba is burning across 600 hectares and is spreading towards "built-up areas", the RFS says.
NSW Police have expressed concerns about the number of people deliberately lighting fires.
Lake Illawarra Inspector Brian Pedersen says it's "distressing" to see people ignoring the warnings of emergency services.
Police spoke to three 12-year-old boys after two fires were lit deliberately in the Lake Illawarra region over the weekend.
"We are urging the whole community to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour," Insp Pedersen said in a statement on Monday.
"Information provided to police from members of the public can help us identify and suppress fire-bugs before they start lighting."
Two million hectares of NSW land have been burnt since July in more than 7000 fires, with authorities dubbing it the "most challenging bushfire season ever".
Six people have died while 673 homes have been destroyed to date.
There are no total fire bans in place for Tuesday.
A "very high" fire danger has been forecast up the NSW coast and in the northern parts of the state.
Australian Associated Press
