'Too late to leave': Londonderry residents warned as bushfire rages out of control

Josh Dye
- Contact via Email
- Follow on Twitter

1,110 reading now

Emergency warning for Londonderry bushfire

Man dead in Baulkham Hills shooting

Sydney Central Station flashmob sings Cohen

How to prove a Shakespearean play

Brothers for Life members guilty of shootings

Matthew Leveson's boyfriend given immunity

Teaching the code for tomorrow

Emergency warning for Londonderry bushfire

An out of control bushfire is burning near The Northern Rd, Londonderry, in western Sydney. Vision courtesy of Seven News. No sound.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds is threatening to hamper firefighters battling an out-of-control bushfire in Sydney's west that is threatening "dozens" of homes.

On Sunday afternoon, the Rural Fire Service renewed a warning to residents in Londonderry, Llandilo and Berkshire Park that it was too late to leave and to take shelter in their homes.

A bushfire rages in Londonderry as firefighters battle to contain the blaze. Photo: Nick Moir

The fire has grown to almost 300 hectares in size and is burning between The Northern Road, Stony Creek Road and Ninth Avenue.

Dozens of homes remain under threat around the perimeter.

Firefighters face strong winds fanning an out of control fire in Sydney's west. Photo: Nick Moir

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting wind gusts in excess of 90km/h in the Southern and Central Tablelands on Sunday night.

At 3pm, westerly winds were gusting at 63km/h in nearby Penrith.

RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told Channel Nine it was a "very volatile situation".

Strong winds remain the major concern, causing spot fires to jump ahead of the main blaze, with embers threatening to ignite more spot fires.

Thick black smoke erupts from the out of control bushfire. Photo: Wolter Peeters

But the RFS is confident it has all the resources on the ground and in the air to combat the blaze.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling the flames and several heavy-duty water bombing aircraft - including the Hercules C130, known as Thor, and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, known as VLAT - are helping to douse the flames.

The bushfire threatening homes in Londonderry on Sunday. Photo: Channel Seven

Jordan Springs resident Melinda Eliassen told Fairfax Media the fire spread quickly and is "getting worse".

"There are clouds of black smoke," Ms Eliassen said. "It's just getting blacker and blacker."

The fire started on The Northern Road in Londonderry and jumped across into the Castlereagh Nature Reserve, the spokesman said. The cause of the fire will be investigated.

A very high fire danger rating was issued for the Greater Sydney region for Sunday because of warm and windy weather.

Photo gallery

Londonderry bushfire rages out of control

BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY: The Skycrane has been called in as @NSWRFS crews battle an out-of-control bushfire at Londonderry. #9News pic.twitter.com/LjcJZhBRiK
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) November 13, 2016

BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY: McDonnell Douglas DC-10 VLAT brought in to help tackle an out-of-control bushfire at Londonderry and Llandilo. #9News pic.twitter.com/1yf7lBLGaQ
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) November 13, 2016

BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY: Hercules C130 'Thor' assisting as crews battle an out-of-control bushfire at Londonderry. #9News pic.twitter.com/thdniYYxlI
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) November 13, 2016

These pictures just into the newsroom from chopper. https://t.co/0jl9ZmwFAW
— Airlie Walsh (@AirlieWalsh) November 13, 2016

Emergency warning in place for out of control grassfire at #Londonderry. Residents should take shelter. #NSWRFS say too late to evacuate.
— Airlie Walsh (@AirlieWalsh) November 13, 2016

More to come