Homes under threat from Springwood fire

FIREFIGHTERS are battling to protect more than 100 properties from a large bushfire burning in Lithgow and the Blue Mountains in NSW.

They were hoping to use the calmer and cooler temperatures on Saturday to control fires across the state, but blazes in and around the Blue Mountains have flared up.

Crews have been redirected from back burning operations to protect more than 100 homes in Bell, Dargan, Berambing and Bilpin that are now under threat, Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said.

The RFS has issued its highest emergency warning for fire burning between Lithgow and Bilpin and closed a number of roads in the area.

It has also issued an emergency warning for Springwood, where 193 properties have already been destroyed.

"This fire is by no means contained," Mr Rogers told reporters in Sydney.

"It's got absolutely kilometres and kilometres of fire front."

He stressed it was too late for people in Berambing and Bilpin to leave, as the roads were too dangerous to use.

"The message is to shelter in place and not to leave," Mr Rogers said.

He urged people in areas that might be affected in coming days to plan what they'd do if the fires reached them.

"There's now two instances this afternoon where ... people may have wanted to go but the situation developed so quickly that they couldn't leave and the decision is made for them," Mr Rogers said.

"If you want to be able to make the decision yourself, then decide now what you're going to do."

Mr Rogers described conditions as "okay", but said it would likely warm up on Sunday and winds could strengthen on Monday.

Firefighters were hoping there was going to be rain, but that now appears unlikely.

Mr Rogers said it was particularly difficult for firefighters working in their home area.

"There's a sense of failure when they lose homes because their mantra is to try and protect people and their homes," he said.

Meanwhile, the defence department is investigating whether there is a link between the Lithgow fire and an explosives training exercise that took place at the Marrangaroo training area on the same day.

An RFS spokesman told AAP there were no fire bans in place while during the training exercise and that it occurred a day before extreme conditions were expected.

Premier Barry O'Farrell said "there was no suggestion" that the explosives testing had sparked the blaze.

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