There have only been four bushfire emergencies declared in Western Sydney, the worst of the blazes being a 60-hectare blaze at Tickner Road (Castlereagh) as well as a three-hectare fire at Bennett and Richmond Roads (Windsor).

Fires have also made their way to Winmalee, Wollombi, Lane Cover and Leets Vale – as well as Marden Park, where an emergency warning has been declared.

Barry O’Farrell told NWS’s parliament on Tuesday that “[There is] one confirmed report of a house lost in Hawkesbury Road,

“This is an ongoing situation,” he added/

Due to the volatile nature of the fires, precautions have been taken, 2,500 people were evacuated from the Western Sydney University campus (Richmond), as well as the complete evacuation of Londonderry Public School, and Marsden Park Public School earlier.

There are also major road closures, and the RFS have warned Londonderry and Castlereagh inhabitants to evacuate the area – if it is safe to do so.

Firefighters are finding it difficult to contain the fire as they seem to be spreading rapidly under strong winds and unusual high temperatures of 32 degrees – embers are starting spot fires.

Meteorologist Simon Louis, from the Bureau of Meteorology, told the Guardian Australia: “The low relative humidity affects the dryness of the fuel of the fires…then when you combine that with the higher wind speeds it means those fires have more potential to spread faster”.

An update has been announced on the Hawkesbury Road, Winmalee blaze – the only fire carrying an emergency warning currently – the NSW rural fire service has said: “Hawkesbury Road [is] currently moving towards the Yellow Rock area. The fire is burning intensely under strong northerly winds.

“An Emergency Alert telephone warning message has been sent to residents in these areas. Police are also door knocking residents that may come under threat due to fire in the Yellow Rock area.

“More than 145 firefighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW are working to contain the fire and protect properties in the Hawkesbury Heights and Yellow Rock areas.

“…Seek shelter as the fire impacts and protect yourself from the heat of the fire. “Put your bush Fire Survival Plan into action. If you do not have a Bush Fire Survival Plan, know what you will do if the fire threatens your property.”

The Fire Brigade Employee’s Union issued a statement, Union secretary Jim Casey stated that “off-duty fire crews had to be called in as neighbouring stations raced to protect life and property, all because [these] budget cuts have left large areas of Sydney without adequate fire protection.”

The cause of the fires are still unknown, investigators are waiting to get in to the area.

Image via Twitter.