Fire which 'started in a restaurant' threatens Sydney homes as high winds and scorching temperatures spread the flames - while blazes also menace Queensland
A blaze that may have started in a Sydney restaurant is now threatening homes after high winds and scorching temperatures spread flames and embers.
The fire, near Moxham Park on Whitehaven Road in Northmead, travelled up an escarpment on Sunday afternoon and towards homes on the street, with firefighters scrambling to protect properties.
Smoke was seen billowing from a home while nearby residents were evacuated - as temperatures in the west soared past 40C.
A woman was seen using a garden hose to wet the roof of her house as smoke began to encroach on her property.
One house could be seen on fire in aerial footage, with others at risk.
RFS crews are on the scene on Whitehaven Road in Northmead, in Sydney's west, where the fire is creeping closer towards houses (pictured on Sunday)
A blaze that is believed to have started in a Sydney restaurant is now threatening homes after high winds and scorching temperatures spread flames and embers
Firefighters worked to control a blaze in a sandstone home as the fire ripped through the area
A woman was seen desperately hosing the roof of her house down as smoke began to encroach on her property
The Rural Fire Service rushed multiple crews to the scene and helicopters scooped water out of the nearby Parramatta Lake to dump on the burning home.
But the blaze was deemed under control about 3pm, with firefighters and aircraft getting the upper hand and the threat to properties easing.
The RFS said it has been a 'challenging few days' for firefighters across NSW, with more than 100 blazes burning from border to border in the past two days.
'It's certainly the worst day for fire risk since last fire season,' NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers told Today.
There are more than 38 fires currently burning around NSW.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Peter McKechnie on Friday urged NSW residents to have fire plans ready and prepare their properties.
The Rural Fire Service rushed multiple crews to the scene and helicopters scooped water out of the nearby Parramatta Lake to dump on the burning home
A total fire ban remains in place across NSW on Sunday with Sydney set to soar past 40C for a second consecutive day and break a 60 year record
Smoke was seen billowing from a home while nearby residents were evacuated at about 1pm
Waterbombing helicopters have taken water water from nearby Lake Parramatta to try and extinguish the fire
'This is the first time since the devastating season last year we've seen widespread elevated fire danger,' he said.
Meanwhile, devastating bushfires have left holidaymakers at Fraser Island's iconic tourist destinations on high alert.
Tourists have been ordered to stay away from Queensland's world heritage-listed island as conditions deteriorated on Saturday.
The out of control blaze which has now been burning for a six weeks has destroyed almost half of the island's national park as waterbombers and ground crews battle the intense conditions.
The Fraser Island blaze came within kilometres of holidaymakers staying at the Kingfisher Bay Resort on Saturday.
'For guests currently staying at the resort, it is advised to remain within the resort grounds, and to not travel onto the inland tracks. Guided tours have also been postponed until further notice,' the resort posted on Facebook.
A separate bushfire has also come within two kilometres of popular campsite Cathedrals on Fraser, ten days after campers were forced to evacuate due to the ongoing inferno.
Major attractions such as Champagne Pools, Eli Creek and Lake McKenzie remain unaffected at this stage.
Tourists are currently unable to arrive on the island as the bushfire enters its seventh week.
A total fire ban remains in place across NSW on Sunday with Sydney set to soar past 40C for a second consecutive day and break a 60 year record.
Grass and crop fires near Berrigan in the NSW Riverina region has kept crews busy
The heatwave conditions have taken a toll on firefighters across NSW, with more than 100 fires burning from border to border in the last two days in the wake of the horror bushfire season last summer.
Sydney, Adelaide and chunks of regional NSW sweltered through the hottest November night on record, with no respite likely until late Sunday afternoon.
Overnight, Observatory Hill in central Sydney recorded a minimum 25.3C, shattering 1967's November record of 24.8C.
Damaging winds with gusts up to 90km/h are also hitting parts of Sydney as a low pressure trough passes over the area.
Cooler temperatures were not forecast to arrive until later on Sunday.
RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said the service was on Sunday deploying 'overwhelming force' to attack every major blaze.