Bushfires burn in Australia's New South Wales, 15 remain uncontrolled

Workers clean a bushfire site at Tasmania's Boomer Bay, Australia, Jan. 9, 2013. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2013 shows burnt vehicles at Boomer Bay of the southeastern island state of Tasmania, Australia. (Xinhua)

Firefighters are battling 126 bushfires in Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW), with 15 of those remaining uncontrolled, the authorities said on Thursday.

NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons urged people to remain vigilant and informed as fire conditions are still very high in the northern part of NSW.

"We've got 126 fires still, with 15 of those yet to be contained - a lot of work for firefighters," he told the Australian television network Channel Seven on Thursday.

"We're talking an area under fire right now of something like 370,000 hectares across NSW, a huge undertaking," Fitzsimmons said.

"There is a lot of work by firefighters necessary ahead of deteriorating weather conditions over the next couple of days."

A total state-wide fire ban is in place, with temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius predicted in most parts of the state, including Sydney.