Other families have probably lost homes or part of their properties.

It is an anxious wait as the total devastation is not yet known.

Read more: Rolling coverage of the Wollondilly bushfires

As the Green Wattle Creek fire activity worsened around lunchtime on Thursday, many took shelter at Picton Bowling Club.

The evacuation centre was established at the club after residents in Bargo, Yanderra, and Balmoral as well as Pheasants Nest, Buxton, Couridjah, Thirlmere and Tahmoor were told to flee their homes.

Cindy Jenart held her upset and scared son Benjamin, 8, while her two youngest, William 6 and Willow 2 obliviously swung high on the swings in the park outside the club.

The family were anxiously waiting for dad and husband Brad Wilson to make his way to them.

They knew he was okay after rescuing seven dingoes, but he couldn't update them as his phone battery had gone flat.

Only eight weeks ago, the family moved in and started running the heritage-listed fauna and flora Wirrimbirra Sanctuary in Bargo.

Now the beautiful sanctuary, and their plans, have all but gone up in flames.

"It is heartbreaking," Mrs Jenart said.

Read more: Bushfire 'could jump Hume Highway' if not contained before Saturday

"There are 31 dingoes at the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary next door and Brad, with four volunteers, were only able to save seven."

Most of the dingoes were set free, and sanctuary members are pleading with the community to be on the look-out for the animals.

"Brad and I were heading went to a pet store to pick up crates for the dingoes but we couldn't get them all in the enclosures in time," Mrs Jenart said.

She said she could see the smoke and then the fire came closer so quickly.

"Brad told me to flee with Willow. We went to get the boys from vacation care in Picton," Mrs Jenart said.

Mr Wilson told his wife most of the sanctuary, including the cabins, had been burnt.

Read more: Homes lost, crews injured as fire bears down on Tahmoor

"We went to the community meeting last night in Bargo," she said.

"But I had nothing packed. I did not realise it was so close to us. I could just grab our papers.

"Now we are starting from less than scratch. Hopefully the dingoes are okay.

"Our fire evacuation plan was to help get the dingoes out, then us. We did the best we could."

Allan and Ganine Gilroy, formerly of Figtree, got the warning to leave while they were out to lunch and rushed home to get their almost 50 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

"We packed the dogs in the car, caravan and back of the ute," Mr Gilroy said.

Of the fire threat, he was not too concerned, even though his five-acre property was close to Tahmoor Colliery which has been evacuated.

"It is what it is," he said. "Provided we have the dogs, we will be alright.

"I just put the permanent roof sprinklers on to try to protect my workshop."

Buxton's Debbie Sanderson did not hesitate to throw her bags into the car when she saw the fire coming towards her house.

"I'm alright," she said, putting on a brave face.

"I'm just happy my family is all together. They are the most important people. Everything else is materialistic.

"We've only been in the house since May

"We were already packed and had our paperwork. We even got the Christmas presents."

Ms Sanderson said one of her granddaughters, Lara was feeling a little stressed about the fire situation but was keeping herself amused by opening the door for people.

Ms Sanderson said she was thinking of the great firefighters out there and was hoping no one would get hurt.

Erica Picaud said she wanted to stay in her Tahmoor home but listened to the warning advice from RFS.

"I have been through fires before and everything has worked out fine," she said.

But regardless, she packed up her great grandchildren and her neighbour, who couldn't drive, and went to the evacuation centre to wait for other family members to arrive.

Read more: Rolling coverage of the Bargo emergency here