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Firefighters walk past trees illuminated by their fire truck as they work to put out a bush fire that erupted in Sydney's western suburb of Castlereagh, New South Wales on September 10. (AFP)
Dozens of bushfires broke out in Australia on Tuesday with six firefighters injured battling fierce blazes in western Sydney that have destroyed at least two properties and left more under threat.
Some 60 fires erupted in the country's most populous state of New South Wales, aided by temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and gusting winds with water-bombing helicopters being used to tackle the danger.
"Currently 40 fires burning in NSW not contained. Fire behaviour very erratic. People need to keep monitoring situation rapidly changing," tweeted NSW Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers.
Four blazes on Sydney's western fringes prompted emergency warnings with news footage showing black smoke billowing over homes and at least three vehicles going up in flames.
"It's scary... knowing it could go any minute now is making me really emotional," Melinda Millard told reporters as she rushed to a property in the Sydney suburb of Castlereagh to help rescue some horses from one of the biggest blazes.
The NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed that one property had been destroyed by fire at Winmalee at the base of the Blue Mountains and another at Marsden Park with several firefighters injured.
"Six have suffered smoke inhalation. One taken to hospital for observation," it said, having earlier tweeted that seven were hurt.
"All major fires today are under investigation to find their cause. Until investigation is complete the cause of these fires is unknown," it added.
At Castlereagh, a 120-hectare (300-acre) grass fire was threatening homes and rural properties while at Windsor another blaze was burning under strong northerly winds.
"Lots of homes are coming under direct threat right now," a fire service spokesman told Sky News.
"It's hotter, drier and windier than the forecasts indicated it might be today and that has presented some real challenges and really been the the driver behind this very ferocious fire behaviour."
State Premier Barry O'Farrell told parliament more than 500 firefighters were responding to the blazes, which follow 27 dry days in Sydney and mark a very early start to the bushfire season, just 10 days after the official end of winter.
"The predominant factor today is heat, dryness and wind," NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told Channel Nine.
"They are the three elements that have come together to provide the recipe for fire to spread easily and spread quickly."
Although temperatures were expected to dip with nightfall, officials said this was unlikely to bring much relief as the winds would continue.
Australia has just experienced its warmest 12 months on record, with the last summer witnessing an unprecedented heatwave, as well as bushfires and floods, seeing a government commission dub it an "Angry Summer".
Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott, who won power in national polls on Saturday and is a volunteer firefighter, tweeted his concerns about the bushfires.
"Bushfire situation in NSW a real worry. My thoughts are with local communities impacted and fellow RFS personnel on the frontline," he said.
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