The NSW Rural Fire Service says 38 fires are burning across the state including one that is threatening lives and homes in the central west.
An emergency warning remains current for people on Ullamalla Road, Alpha Road, Hill End Road, and Tambaroora.
The blaze broke out on Sunday afternoon at Tambaroora, near Hill End and about 80 kilometres north of Bathurst, and has since burned more than 635 hectares from just 169ha this morning.
The strong winds that have fanned the flames were expected to abate and change direction this evening, potentially easing the threat for the village of Hill End but increasing it for the Sallys Flat area.
In an alert just after 5pm, the RFS urged those in the Sallys Flat and Maitland Creek areas to leave towards Sofala or Bathurst, and those north of Doughertys Junction to head towards Hargraves or Mudgee.
"It is extremely dangerous," RFS Inspector Troy Gersback said.
"There is no containment on this fire which is completely free burning."
He said flames were burning up to 10 metres in height.
The properties at risk belong to a mix of absentee landholders and permanent residents.
The RFS is also concerned about ember attacks due to high winds.
The fire is also within about 2 kilometres of the historic gold mining village of Hill End, which is located near the quartz roasting pits complex, established in 1855.
Ground and aerial crews are fighting the fire which is in rugged terrain in an isolated area.
Mr Gersback is concerned the soaring temperatures and winds of up to 50 kilometres per hour may see the situation deteriorate further.
"Given the conditions we are forecast to see today, winds are only going to increase and the temperatures are only going to get hotter," he said.
"There is real potential for this fire to take a run throughout the day, so we are certainly encouraging people now is the time to enact your bushfire survival plan."
A woman in her teens has been taken to Bathurst Hospital in a stable condition for treatment after being affected by smoke in the area.
An earlier emergency warning for a fire that has burnt through 450ha at Cranbrook, 20km south of Dubbo, was downgraded to a Watch and Act alert at 7pm.
Elsewhere, Water NSW has confirmed it has evacuated its workers at Burrendong Dam near Wellington amid warnings a fire that has so far burnt at least 80ha could impact rural properties.
Earlier, a fire that has burnt more than 1,000ha at Girilambone, north west of Nyngan, closed the Mitchell Highway and threatened isolated rural properties before being downgraded to Advice.
Another Watch and Act-level fire burning along the Mitchell Highway at Glenariff Station, about 90km south-east of Bourke, has also being downgraded from Watch and Act to Advice.
Dozens of schools were closed across the state on Monday as the Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for heatwave conditions in some parts and temperatures climbing above 40 degrees in places including Bourke and Walgett.
Seven areas are under a total fire ban with an extreme fire weather warning in place for three regions.
Concerned residents
Carla Kamsteeg runs a self-catered accommodation business about 10 kilometres north of the Hill End village and said the smoke is so thick can no longer see the water bombers.
She said the fire front was between 3 to 4 kilometres west of her home, making her a "little bit" worried.
"I can see smoke, a lot of smoke, there was none this morning, but that's all whipped up again," she said.
Ms Kamsteeg and her husband were intending to stay but said they were prepared, with fire fighting pumps and hoses set up and sprinklers around the houses on.
"It's all you can do, it's just a waiting game now," she said.
She feared the afternoon would see the temperature climb and wind gusts increase, fanning the flames and increasing the danger.
