Firefighters congratulated for actions at Cooks Hill house fire

NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) Commissioner Greg Mullins today praised the efforts offirefighters who pulled a man from his blazing home in Cooks Hill this morning.

"Firefighters did an amazing job at the house fire this morning," Commissioner Mullins said.

"At about 6:00 am fire crews from Newcastle, Hamilton and Merewether were called to a house fire on Tooke Street, Cooks Hill and arrived on the scene within seven minutes to find a single storey house well alight.

"Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters performed a search and rescue through thick smoke and searched the house for a male occupant who was missing.

"Using a high pressure hose to keep flames away, firefighters located a man in a bedroom and lifted him to safety through a window. On arrival paramedics performed vital first aid on the man who suffered burns and smoke inhalation."

The man has since been transported to hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Commissioner Mullins paid tribute to the firefighters for the role they played when faced with a life threatening situation.

"I would like to acknowledge the outstanding and courageous efforts of crews at this house fire.

"The quick-thinking actions of these firefighters played a vital role in this man's rescue."

He said emergency service personnel play a crucial role in protecting the people of NSW, their homes and their workplaces.

"The NSW Fire Brigades appreciates that our firefighters do their job every day to protect the community," Commissioner Mullins said.

"I would like to commend the firefighters for their actions and wish the house occupant a full and speedy recovery."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.