A fire has set a factory and cars alight and is burning out of control in Sydney's west.
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Fire and Rescue NSW said 11 firefighting crews were already battling the blaze at Kingswood near Penrith and more crews were on the way.
Firefighters are battling to contain an industrial fire at #Kingswood in #Sydney's west. http://t.co/JTCYndiTCf pic.twitter.com/2nxNGUX6g9 — ABC News Sydney (@abcnewsSydney) August 1, 2014
It started in grass and bushland behind an industrial complex on Copeland Street near Phillip Street, a spokeswoman said.
A boys' school, St Dominic's College, is nearby.
The school principal was not immediately reachable by phone.
BREAKING: A dangerous grassfire is spreading in #Kingswood, impacting factories. More to come. pic.twitter.com/gliKr8hlTO — 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) August 1, 2014
Firefighters were also attempting to prevent the fire from reaching a bank of gas cylinders.
"F/fighters have contained fire on three sides," Fire and Rescue NSW tweeted just after 2pm.
"Crews attacking main fire and protecting bank of LPG cylinders."
As of 3pm, firefighters were confident they were getting the upper hand.
A large shed and a number of vehicles had been lost, a Fire and Rescue NSW spokeswoman said.
Around the state, three fires in the NSW north-east had prompted the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to issue a "watch and act" alert on Friday.
The most threatening fires were burning at Kempsey, Walcha and in the Clarence Valley on Friday afternoon.
The RFS was expecting slightly better conditions for the weekend, although the fire danger in the state's north-east would remain high on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the service said.
The most threatening fires were burning at Kempsey, Walcha and in the Clarence Valley on Friday afternoon.
The RFS was expecting slightly better conditions for the weekend, although the fire danger in the state's north-east would remain high on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the service said.
As result of one of the fires, the Pacific Highway was closed in both directions between Kempsey and Bellimbopinni on Friday afternoon.
The Transport Management Centre (TMC) said motorists travelling north were being diverted at the Kempsey bypass via Macleay Valley Way (Old Pacific Highway), South West Rocks Road and Smithtown Road.
South-bound drivers were being diverted along the same routes in the opposite direction.
Smoke was affecting visibility in the area, the TMC said.