As of Tuesday afternoon, a watch-and-act alert remains in place for the Guyra Rd Ebor fire, which has burnt more than 15,000 hectares.
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The Waterfall Way between Ebor and Wollomombi has been closed most of the day for backburning operations.
Fire activity is increasing on the south side, and the RFS warned it could merge with the massive Carrai Creek blaze northwest of Kempsey, which has already burnt more than 200,000 hectares, after fire activity started to pick up in the Styx River area.
Police allege the Ebor fire was deliberately lit on Thursday by Gavin James Gardiner 51. He remains behind bars on charges of intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread; as well dishonestly for gain damaging property by fire.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said since the start of the bushfire season some 1.6 million hectares of land has been lost - more land loss than the entire 1993/1994 season.
Firefighters are battling a firefront of some 6000km, the equivalent distance of a return Sydney-Perth trip, Mr Rogers said on Monday.
He said firefighters were "singularly focused" on preventing further loss of life and property and warned people to stay alert.
"Even though it's not a catastrophic danger [this week] it's still going to be bad fire days," Mr Rogers said.
He urged anyone who had not yet been affected by bushfires to "please use this as a wake-up call", warning them to take steps including cleaning out gutters and having a fire safety plan in place.
