The Tingha fire, which was downgraded to a watch-and-act alert on Thursday afternoon, has destroyed at least nine homes and damaged one other, the NSW Rural Fire Service said in a statement.

About 18 outbuildings such as sheds have been destroyed in the 18,000-hectare fire.

Crews are attempting to contain the blaze with back-burning before it reaches the Old Mill and Gilgai communities.

Some residents returned to scorched properties near Tingha earlier on Thursday.

Kim Deans, who sold off most stock on her eight-hectare property last week due to drought, said it was a miracle her home was standing and her last remaining cow and calf survived.

"We're incredibly grateful our house is still standing thanks to the firefighters and locals who put themselves in harm's way to protect life and property," she told AAP after arriving home.

"And they're still going (saving other properties)."

Ms Deans said one of her neighbours had lost their home while many others would have suffered livestock losses.

Kathy Vickery said her farm south of Tingha had little livestock feed because of drought and she was concerned how much the fire would destroy.

"It's coming into the property but we're very lucky we have cleared land so the house should be fine," she told AAP.

"For everyone else, it's going to be a very interesting day."

Meanwhile, another fire allegedly started in a backyard rubbish bin at Tabulum on the NSW-Queensland border destroyed 10 homes.

It also razed 23 outbuildings and damaged a further six homes as it burned through 4000 hectares.

A 40-year-old woman is accused of setting alight the rubbish during Tuesday's total fire ban and is due to appear in Casino Local Court on February 27.

Less than 50 kilometres west of Tabulum, another massive fire at Wallangarra has burned through 19,000 hectares.

It briefly threatened properties but that risk has eased, the RFS said on Thursday afternoon.

All three blazes remain out of control as nearly 40 continue to burn across the state.

The RFS predicts it could take "days and days" for crews to contain them but desperately hope to get the upper hand before hot weather returns at the weekend.

Temperatures will range from the high-20s in coastal areas to mid-30s inland throughout Friday.

Australian Associated Press