Bushfires hit Sydney suburbs – in pictures

A bushfire comes within 200 metres of houses at Windsor Downs near Richmond, Sydney Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPIMAGE

Smoke rises as fire crews battle grass fires that threaten properties in Castlereagh, Sydney Photograph: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

A firefighter works to control a bushfire at the Windsor Downs nature reserve near Sydney Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Firefighters attempt to extinguish the fire in the nature reserve Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

A firefighter shouts instructions to others near the fire in the Windsor Downs nature reserve Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Residents look at the flames from a bushfire in Castlereagh, one of Sydney's western suburbs Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Firefighters walk past trees illuminated by their firetruck near Castlereagh
Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

A helicopter carries water to be dropped on the bushfire in Castlereagh Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters