Fire crews on stand-by amid extreme conditions.

Fire crews on stand-by amid extreme conditions. 31/12/2005. ABC News Online

Total fire bans are in place across New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT as crews brace themselves for extreme weather conditions this weekend.

One thousand firefighters are on stand-by across NSW, and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) says it is aiming to put out 20 fires burning across the state before the weather deteriorates further tomorrow.