THE LATEST ON THE NSW BUSHFIRES
* Four people have died since Friday - two people in the Kangawalla blaze near Glen Innes, one in the Crowdy Bay fire near Taree, and one on the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, northwest of Kempsey.
* A severe fire danger rating is in place for the far north coast, north coast, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and large parts of the state are under total fire bans.
* Conditions eased following a "catastrophic" danger rating earlier in the week, but Friday's forecast of hot, dry weather once again poses a threat.
* Two emergency alerts are in place - at Gospers Mountain near Colo Heights and at Ebor, east of Armidale.
* 259 homes have been destroyed since last Friday, with 87 damaged.
* 480 outbuildings have been destroyed, with 155 damaged.
* A total of 2141 buildings in the direct area of the fire saved, RFS says.
* Nearly 60 fires burning across NSW, with 35 uncontained.
* About 1.1 million hectares burned - more than the combined total for the past three NSW bushfire seasons.
* State of emergency remains in place until early next week.
* 1300 firefighters worked in the field on Thursday night, supported by aircraft and fire trucks.
* About 60 schools remain closed on Friday.
* Authorities warn it could take many months to bring all the fires under control and declare them safe unless there is rain.
* The Insurance Council of Australia said insurers had received 900 claim applications, with initial losses totalling $100 million.
Australian Associated Press
