More than 53 bush and grass fires are burning up and down the coast between Newcastle and Byron Bay and inland to the west as far as Bourke.

WHERE THE MAJOR FIRES ARE ON MONDAY

* Bees Nest, north of Ebor, in the Armidale area, impacting more than 60,000 hectares

* Long Gully Road, Drake, in the Tenterfield area, impacting more than 30,000 hectares

THE DAMAGE SO FAR

* 1 home destroyed in Tenterfield

* 5 homes damaged in Tenterfield, 1 home damaged in Lidsdale

* A number of outbuildings have been destroyed or damaged in Tenterfield

* 3 outbuildings destroyed in Lidsdale

RESOURCES

* 680 firefighters are on the ground

WARNINGS

* Bees Nest: watch and act, fire still out of control

* Drake: watch and act, fire still out of control

FORECAST

* Strong winds expected in both the Tenterfield and Armidale areas on Monday and coming days which will make if difficult to control the blazes.

Australian Associated Press