The Rural Fire Service announced an early end to the bushfire danger period for 19 local government areas including heavily bushfire-affected regions like Glen Innes, Tenterfield and Armidale.

Dozens of homes and five lives were lost in the New England and Northern Tablelands areas in the worst bushfire season in its history.

For much of the region the bushfire danger period began months early, on August 1.

The worst, earliest fires in history first hit Glen Innes and Tenterfield in early Spring.

Homes in Tenterfield were destroyed in a bushfire that hit the outskirts of town on September 6, injuring a local firefighter. Schools were evacuated as the out-of-control blaze charged directly towards them.

RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said at the time there has never been a fire danger rating as high that early in the history of NSW, according to RFS records.

Bushfires, fueled by an unprecedented drought, attacked communities several times more over the course of the next months, generating thick smoke that covered the entire region. Two lives were lost in Drake to a fire in October.

But tragedy struck again on November 8 as an unprecedented 17 emergency-level fires tore through communities across NSW.

Another three lives were lost, with two dead in a blaze that destroyed most of Wytaliba. It was the tiny village's second emergency-level fire of the season.

Across NSW the season's fires left 25 dead, destroyed over 2000 homes, killed about a billion animals, and wrecked an estimated 18.6 million hectares of countryside.

Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Inverell, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Mid Coast, Nambucca, Port-Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield, Tweed, Uralla and Walcha local government areas are now safe.

New England RFS manager Superintendent Steve Mepham said said "local conditions" made it appropriate to call an end to the season early. Much of the region has enjoyed monsoonal rainfall over late summer.

"The message to landholders is to take this opportunity in March and throughout the coming winter months to get any necessary burning completed on your property," he said.

"With the recent trend in fire seasons beginning earlier in the year and summer fire weather conditions becoming more unpredictable landowners should not rely on being able to burn in summer.

"Ensure all your pile burning and hazard reduction activities are scheduled into the winter land management activities for your property.

"The cooler months are where all the preparation work should occur to ensure you are in the best possible position for the next fire season.

"The RFS is able to carry out property assessments, assist you with your Bushfire Survival Plan, prepare burns plans and arrange for qualified fire crew to undertake the burn on your property."

Fire permits are still required to conduct hazard reduction or pile burns in these areas.

The bushfire danger period will not end for the rest of NSW until March 31, the end of the statutory period.