NSW bushfires: Tourists urged to leave south coast as weather intensifies - 7NEWS.com.au

Bushfire-ravaged communities in southern NSW will continue to try to assess the damage after seven lives and at least 176 homes were lost.

Tourists in the popular holiday region are now being urged to leave as locals and authorities brace for severe and extreme fire danger on Saturday.

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"Where roads can be accessed, we will be encouraging tourists, especially, to move out of those areas whilst it's safe to do so," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Wednesday.

But she asked for patience as not all roads would be opened until trees and debris were cleared.

"Just because you can't see flames doesn't mean the road is safe to use."

Buildings destroyed by fire are seen in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Credit: SEAN DAVEY/AAPIMAGE

'The risk is very real'

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said conditions on Saturday would likely be worse than those on New Year's Eve, which left a trail of destroyed homes, businesses and utility lines up and down the south coast.

"We've seen the enormity of damage, destruction and devastation that unfolded (on Tuesday)," he said.

"This risk is very real."

A NSW firefighting crew speak to 7NEWS about the moment they survived being caught in a bushfire.

He said extreme fire danger was likely over more regions in southern NSW, which "unfortunately correlates with where we have some of the worst, most damaging and destructive bushfires".

"We all need to prepare ourselves for more challenging conditions to once again impact a large geographic area of NSW, particularly the southeast quadrant," he said.

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The RFS warned holidaymakers on the south coast to leave before Saturday and warned those planning to travel there on the weekend to cancel their trip.

On Wednesday, police found three bodies in the fire-gutted communities of Sussex Inlet and Yatte Yattah.

Death toll rises

Seven people have died since Monday, including a person found outside a home in Coolagolite, near Cobargo.

Coolagolite farmer Steve Shipton survived the same firefront but thought he "was gone" as, with burning eyes, he tried to save his family and his home.

Business owner Sally Anne Wilson (left) stands in front of her destroyed shop with her partner Christopher Lee in Cobargo, NSW. Credit: SEAN DAVEY/AAPIMAGE

"It's just unbelievable. The ferocity and how quick... That's what shocked me and that's why I thought we were in a good situation to survive," the soot-covered farmer told AAP.

A Belowra man, 72, remains missing.

At least 176 homes have been lost across the state but the number is expected to rise on Thursday.

NSW authorities are warning of more dangerous fire conditions on Saturday on the south coast. Credit: AAP

Tens of thousands are also without power after transmission lines were damaged.

Police asked for patience as utility providers attempted to restore power and telecom services.

"We have to make sure that when we restart the power, we do that with safety and confidence, that it will remain on," NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said.

Christmas decorations line a property fence in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Credit: SEAN DAVEY/AAPIMAGE

"People need to understand this is not a simple or easy task."

Very high fire danger is forecast on Thursday for eight fire districts on or west of the Great Dividing Range while high fire risk is due for some coastal regions.

More than 100 fires are burning across the state.

Since the start of July, at least 15 people have died and more than 1000 homes have been destroyed by bushfires in NSW. More than 3.6 million hectares - three times the size of Sydney's metro area - have been burnt.

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January 01, 2020 at 11:39PM