Emergency warnings in place for New South Wales bushfires

An unknown number of homes have been lost as New South Wales suffers one of its worst bushfire days in years.

Emergency warnings have been issued for bushfires burning out of control near Lithgow, Wollongong, Newcastle, Muswellbrook, Wyong and the Blue Mountains.

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says if we get through with less than 100 homes destroyed today, we have been lucky.

Total fire bans are in place until midnight for areas including Greater Sydney, plus the Central Ranges, North Coast and North Western districts.

The weather bureau has forecast temperatures will hit the mid-30s and that wind gusts could reach up to 90 kilometres per hour — via redwolf.newsvine.com