Authorities have downgraded a fire emergency in Sydney's south-west that had earlier threatened homes and has left several people injured.
Fire and Rescue NSW began receiving triple-0 calls relating to a grass fire shortly before 2pm. (ABC News)
Several firefighters have suffered injuries, with one suffering smoke inhalation and another getting embers and soot in their eyes.
Two civilians were also reported to have chest pains and anxiety and were assessed by paramedics in their homes.
NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Inspector Ben Shepherd said while it was believed some properties had been damaged it was unclear if these were homes or sheds.
"We have yet to assess that, there were homes that were under direct threat," he told the ABC.
The Rural Fire Service issued an emergency warning. (ABC News)
"We know there were also some equipment and some sheds that have been damaged on that fire ground, but the concentration still has to be to get the fire under control and then they can start doing a full assessment of the fire ground just to see what has been damaged and what has been lost."
The blaze started in a block of land that used to be an amusement park and it was whipped up by strong gusty winds and hot temperatures.
"At the highest point of the fire we did escalate this to an emergency alert fire and advised people that it was too late to leave," said Fire and Rescue NSW superintendent Greg Wright.
"And we did send out an alert for the wider area due to the plastic fire that was burning inside the amusement park.
"We told them to close their doors and windows and stay inside to ensure their safe and healthy for their respiratory protection.
"Due to the wind the fire was burning quite fiercely.
"We have downgraded it to advice level now, but we've asked residents to stay in their homes and don't come out and look at the firefighters. Yes, it's exciting but for their safety they should stay in their homes and watch from their windows."
He said he was unsurprised at how quickly the fire took off.
"Fires can start in an instant and can quickly spread, especially under the conditions we had today: warm temperatures and strong winds," he said.
He said it was unclear how it started but said fire investigators and police would determine the cause and origin of the fire.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route.
Trains are not running between Glenfield and Leppington on the T2 Inner West and Leppington line.
Those planning to catch the train are advised to delay their trip or make alternative travel arrangements.
Further south around the Spring Farm area there was another fire which was Watch and Act but has also been downgraded to Advice.
Find emergency information and warnings for your area at ABC Emergency.
Fires
Firefighters have contained a significant blaze that threatened homes in Sydney's southwest after strong winds blew it out of control.
The grassfire, reported about 2pm, burned in the Edmonson Park and Horningsea Park area and sparked an emergency warning it was too late for residents to leave, before it was brought under control.
More than 20 fire trucks, 80 firefighters, bushfire tankers and two helicopters were required to control the blaze which centred at the intersection of Camden Valley Way and Cowpasture Road.
Fire and Rescue NSW and Rural Fire Service crews attended the incident, with FRNSW Superintendent Gregory Wright saying the fire was at the site of an old amusement park.
"Under the strong winds, the fire quickly spread into grass and bushland ... and has been burning towards homes," he said.
"Firefighters quickly surrounded the fire and have been working to contain the fire to a defined area from hard control lines."
Two firefighters reported injuries for battling the blaze, with one suffering smoke inhalation and the other got soot in his eye, but neither were taken to hospital.
Speaking at 4.30pm, Supt Wright encouraged residents to stay inside their homes despite crews having got the upper hand on the fire.
"Yes it's exciting, but for their safety they should stay in their homes and watch from their windows," he said.
"Firefighters have the fire contained, and we are now working on mopping up."
It was one of at least 27 fires reported statewide by the RFS on Wednesday afternoon, as damaging winds hit NSW.
Disaster and Emergency Response
Firefighters have contained two large grass fire that were threatening properties in south-west Sydney on August 28.
Several grass fires and bushfires were burning along the NSW south coast including one near Bega Valley.
The NSW Rural Fire Service issued an emergency warning for the fire on Camden Valley Way at Horningsea Park.
The fire was moving in an easterly direction and impacting homes in the area of Talana Hill Drive to Jardine Drive Park in Edmonson Park.
The warning said that it is "too late to leave".
"Embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than he main fire front," the RFS said.
That warning was downgraded at 4.30pm on August 28.
Firefighters and waterbombing aircraft are working in the area to slow the spread of the fire.
A watch and act warning has also been issued for an out-of-control grass fire burning at Spring Farm, near Camden has also been downgraded to advice.
On the south coast, there are a number of grass fires and bushfires including near the Bega Valley.
NSW Rural Fire Service spokesperson Victoria Quested told ACM said there had been a number of incidents on the south coast, particularly in the Shoalhaven area, driven by those strong westerly winds.
"This morning crews responded to a large grass fire in Yatte Yattah in the Shoalhaven," she said.
Wind gusts were up to 80km/h in that area.
"There was no damage or properties lost but it was an indication of what the day was going to be like," she said.
Ms Quested said we are still seeing those winds into the evening.
"We are urging people who plan to conduct hazard reduction burns to delay and really be monitoring the weather before you light up anything," she said.
"We are expecting to see conditions easing towards the end of the week."
She said a return to elevated fire danger will occur on August 30 in Sydney, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and the south-western corner of the state ( Hatfield, Pooncarie).
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a wind warning for the Illawarra, South Coast, Snowy Mountains and parts of the Hunter, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and ACT.
Edmonson Park
An out-of-control grass fire in Sydney's south-west has triggered an emergency warning, with some residents being warned it is 'now too late to leave' and instead encouraged to seek shelter.
Fire crews were called to the blaze on Camden Valley Way, Horningsea Park just before 2pm on Wednesday.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) issued an emergency warning an hour later.
It is now warning residents in the Talarna Hill Drive to Jardine Drive area of Edmondson Park that it is 'too late to leave', advising them instead to seek shelter inside a solid structure such as a house.
'Crews are getting the upper hand to the west of Winburg Drive and Diamond Hill Circuit,' the RFS website says.
'People in the area are still advised to seek shelter. It is too late to leave.
'Embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than the main fire front.
'Firefighters and waterbombing aircraft are working in the area to slow the spread of the fire.'
Fire crews were called to the blaze on Camden Valley Way, Horningsea Park just before 2pm on Wednesday (pictured)
'Crews are getting the upper hand to the west of Winburg Drive and Diamond Hill Circuit,' the RFS website says. 'People in the area are still advised to seek shelter. It is too late to leave'
Authorities have closed Camden Valley Way and Bringelly Road between Talana Hill Drive and Skyline Crescent.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route, while trains are not running between Glenfield and Leppington on the T2 Inner West and Leppington line.
Horningsea Park
It comes after the scorching winter heatwave combined with gusts of wind up to 100km/h have triggered a series of bushfires across NSW, as fire chiefs issue an urgent warning to rural property owners.
Over a dozen bush and grass fires have ignited along the southern coast of NSW on Wednesday, with the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions in the state's south-east particularly affected.
The unseasonably hot temperatures combined with high winds of over 100 km/h have fuelled the fires, as the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has urged landlords to pause any planned burns.
'Bush and grass fires can happen at absolutely any time of the year but today we are seeing very strong and gusty winds, particularly in the greater Sydney and sort of Illawarra, Shoalhaven areas,' a spokesperson for the RFS told Daily Mail Australia.
Over a dozen bush and grass fires have ignited along the southern coast of NSW on Wednesday, with Illawarra and Shoalhaven in the state's south-east particularly affected (pictured)
The unseasonably hot temperatures combined with high winds of over 100 km/h have fuelled the fires, as the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has urged landlords to pause any planned burns (pictured: residents defend a property from a bushfire at Hillsville near Taree, 350km north of Sydney on November 12, 2019)
‘That’s why you're seeing a little band of fires on the coast down there - Shoalhaven, particularly, has been quite busy since even late last night.
‘Trees and powerlines are down and we’ve had a few instances of private landholder hazard reduction burns reigniting under the winds.'
The spokesperson urged landowners to hold off lighting any any 'private hazard reduction burns'.
'This is at the time of year traditionally where we do see a lot of landholders doing work, which is great.
'But on days like today, we are urging you to hold off, don't light up because the last thing we want to see is those fires get away from you and get out of control and potentially threaten your home or your neighbour's property as well.'
All fires are currently under control and there are no emergency warnings, according to the RFS website.
