A FAMILY has lost their home overnight after a ferocious blaze tore through a Kotara home.
Emergency services were called to the medium size residential house on Meredith Street at Kotara at 8.17pm on Sunday night.
The fire had engulfed the home, but the residents had managed to evacuate the building. One elderly man was treated for foot injuries and smoke inhalation at the scene before being taken by ambulance to John Hunter Hospital.
"On arrival crews were faced with a fire in the rear of the premises that was quickly intensifying under a high fuel load from an attached shed, therefore the response level was bumped up," a statement from Fire and Rescue NSW said.
"Crews used six lines of hose to bring the blaze under control."
It took 17 NSW Fire and Rescue crews to get control of the blaze and stop it from spreading to neighbouring homes.
The house has suffered extensive damage and fire fighters remained on scene on Monday morning working to keep the area safe.
At this stage it is not known what started the fire. Investigators will attempt to access the site once it is deemed safe.
