An unexpectedly heavy overnight downpour tamed some of the blazes which have ravaged New South Wales since Christmas Day.
Up to 40mm of rain fell on major fire fronts in the Blue Mountains national park area 60 kilometres west of Sydney and the Hawkesbury area 50 kilometres northwest of the city today.
But on the third major fire-front around 80 kilometres south of the city, there was no such relief for fire crews with little or no rain falling.
Officials said 101 homes had been lost to the fires, which over 14 days have burned over 550,000 hectares, an area twice the size of Greater London.
But fire chiefs said although the rain may have dampened down blazes on some major fire fronts, the situation was still uncertain.
Meteorologists forecast the cloudy conditions would clear this afternoon with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius and forecast strong, dry north-westerly winds that could fan smouldering embers and cause flare-ups.
Police have arrested 26 suspected arsonists. Most are juveniles, one as young as nine and one a 16-year-old girl charged with lighting a small fire in Sydney's northern suburbs.