PHOTOS: Firies injured, homes lost as west Sydney burns

By Lisa Davies, Nick Ralston and Peter Hannam
Updated September 10 2013 - 8:11pm, first published 3:34pm
Fire destroyed vehicles in Londonderry in western Sydney. Photo: NICK MOIR
Fire destroyed vehicles in Londonderry in western Sydney. Photo: NICK MOIR
Fire destroyed vehicles in Londonderry in western Sydney. Photo: NICK MOIR
Fire destroyed vehicles in Londonderry in western Sydney. Photo: NICK MOIR
Rural Fire Service crews from Sutherland and Loftus keep an eye on the flank of a bushfire near Londonderry. Photo: DALLAS KILPONEN
Rural Fire Service crews from Sutherland and Loftus keep an eye on the flank of a bushfire near Londonderry. Photo: DALLAS KILPONEN
Smoke colours the sky in western Sydney. Photo: DALLAS KILPONEN
Smoke colours the sky in western Sydney. Photo: DALLAS KILPONEN
Smoke haze colours the sunset in Sydney. Photo: SIMONE DE PEAK
Smoke haze colours the sunset in Sydney. Photo: SIMONE DE PEAK
An RFS crew on Londonderry Rd. Pic: Nick Moir
An RFS crew on Londonderry Rd. Pic: Nick Moir
An abandoned truck burns on Londonderry Rd. Pic: Nick Moir
An abandoned truck burns on Londonderry Rd. Pic: Nick Moir

City office workers might have complained about smoke in their eyes and nostrils on Tuesday afternoon but on Sydney's north-western fringe, firefighters were engaged in a running battle to save lives and homes as the summer bushfire season kicked off with terrifying scenes.