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

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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 as they battle an out-of-control bushfire in Sydney's west that is threatening dozens of homes.

The Rural Fire Service is urging residents on the fire's perimeter in Londonderry, Llandilo and Berkshire Park to remain sheltered in their homes, but on Sunday night downgraded their warning to 'Watch and Act'. 

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.

Complicating the situation is a Bureau of Meteorology forecast for wind gusts in excess of 90km/h in the Central Tablelands for Sunday night, which could cause the fire to flare again.

An RFS spokesman said firefighters are remaining vigilant due to the expected conditions.

After igniting around lunchtime, strong westerly winds caused the fire to grow to almost 300 hectares in size, burning in Castlereagh Nature Reserve between The Northern Road, Stony Creek Road and Ninth Avenue.

While no lives or homes were lost, there was one casualty when a 24-year-old volunteer firefighter was struck by a falling tree branch while fighting the fire. She was taken to Nepean hospital with suspected injuries to her collarbone.

Dozens of homes remain under threat around the perimeter if winds pick up or change direction.

One Llandilo resident, Kathryn, whose property backs onto Castlereagh Nature Reserve, said she lost her back fence but did not report any other damage.

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

Earlier, Jordan Springs resident Melinda Eliassen told Fairfax Media the fire spread quickly.

"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.

Two other smaller fires also broke out in Faulconbridge and Lansdowne on Sunday afternoon but did not cause major damage. 

The fires come as RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said he is "very concerned" about the fire potential this summer. 

The state's third-wettest winter on record has fuelled rapid grass and bush growth.

"The rain has had a huge impact on the western part of NSW," Mr Rogers said. "There is huge amounts of grass growing. We're very concerned once that dries off and goes all brown, it's going to be very flammable."

The wet winter also hampered efforts to conduct backburning. "We haven't burnt as many areas as we'd have liked to," Mr Rogers said.

He gave an ominous warning for the summer months: "The bush is quite ready to burn - we just need a few warm days."

With more than 74,000 volunteers, Mr Rogers said he is confident the RFS is ready for the worst of summer but encouraged others to sign up. "There is always a need for more volunteers in smaller rural areas but we still have very good numbers," he said.