Nearby residents raised the alarm about 2pm after flames were seen leaping from the Green St home.

Fire units from Quirindi and Werris Creek were quickly on scene, but Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Grant O’Regan said the blaze had already taken hold.

“They got here quickly and acted quickly and kept the fire to half the house, but the house was destroyed. The remainder is damaged by heat, smoke and water,” he said.

No one was at home at the time.

Fire investigators and police are looking into the cause of the blaze, which is believed to have been sparked in the loungeroom or a bedroom, but at this stage they don’t believe it is suspicious or was deliberately lit.