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Update by Jess Layt
A five-person firefighting crew has been injured after they were "overrun" but the fast-moving Green Wattle Creek fire in Wollondilly this afternoon.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane FitzSimmons said three crew members suffered serious burns and smoke inhalation while battling the uncontained, emergency-level blaze.
"Green Wattle Creek has broken out today and headed south-east through the community of Balmoral, crossed the railway line and extended further east towards Bargo, Tahmoor and Pheasants Nest," he told media in a conference this afternoon.
"A crew was overrun by fire in the Bargo area, and a number of crew members suffered serious burn injuries.
"Two males have face and airway burns and some other burns to different parts of their bodies including face, arms, elbows and legs. All members are alert and conscious however given the serious potential for airway burns, they'll be medically intubated and airlifted to a burns hospital.
"The other injured person, a female, suffered burns and smoke inhalation and is being transported to hospital via road ambulance.
"The other two members of the crew suffered smoke inhalation and were treated by ambulance specialists on scene."
The injured men are aged 56 and 36, while the woman is aged 28.
Commissioner FitzSimmons said the men were in a serious condition but were receiving the "best attention and the best care".
The commissioner also said the fire had "impacted" buildings in the southern Wollondilly area.
"There is considerable fire activity and there are reports of many structures and buildings being impacted, including some homes, local firefighters' homes as well as other homes in the community," he said.
"The fire is still particularly busy and active and the southerly change has impacted the fire ground now.
"There are concerns it will spread further north towards the township and community of Tahmoor.
"There will still be many hours of fire activity this afternoon and tonight before we see any easing of fire activity tomorrow.
"We can expect to see a worse day again on Saturday, as we've been indicating."
Commission FitzSimmons said crews in the area were still "very active and involved in the rigorous and fast-moving fire front".
"It's spreading very quickly and intensely in an easterly direction," he said.
"The fire has now been impacted by a southerly change, which makes for increasing levels of danger.
"There is increased volatility, and dramatic changes in fire intensity and spread.
"It is still a very difficult and dangerous set of circumstances for the community around that area."
Members of the greater Bargo community have been told the evacuate and some have had to set their animals free in the hope they could escape the blaze.
Macarthur community noticeboards have been inundated with messages from locals asking people to please contact them if they've spotted their animals, like horses.
Dingoes from the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary have also been set free, and sanctuary members are pleading with the community to be on the look-out for the animals.
There are said to be about 18 dingoes on the loose.
Anyone who spots the dingoes should contact Lucille on 0419 488 680 or Rebecca on 0408 880 137.
The Hume Highway south of Narellan has also been closed due to the fire danger.
Community members are advised to follow all instructions from emergency service personnel and steer clear of fire-affected areas.
Earlier:
Paramedics are treating three patients for burns at Bargo.
A 50-year-old man, a 20-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman have suffered leg and facial burns as well as smoke inhalation, according to a NSW ambulance spokeswoman.
Emergency services have been on the scene for about an hour.
A helicopter is on scene and will transport the patients to hospital soon.
