Tamworth fire: A home is alight on Browns Lane and a shed on fire in Bridge Street

The fire self-extinguished and crews from both Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service were on scene.

An elderly woman was checked by paramedics and little damage was done to the home.

“It’s an opportune time given we’re in the winter period for people to take a look at the state of their flues,” Tamworth RFS operations officer Steve Prior said.

“Make sure they have been cleaned out because build up of combustion material will set alight, people should also check they have been installed correctly.

“We have found lengths of flue joined around the wrong way, so people should have them checked to eliminate the risk of those types of fires at this time of the year.”

UPDATE

THE BLAZE on Browns Lane has been extinguished after a chimney fell onto the house.

Tamworth Rural Fire Service operations officer Steve Prior said Fire and Rescue NSW were asked to attend because they can often get a faster response to structural fires.

“It’s under control now, it seems to have been a chimney fire but other than that they’re still tidying up,” he said.

“The fire is not threatening anything or expanding through the house.”

EARLIER

A CHIMNEY has collapsed into a house on Browns Lane and firefighters are headed to the scene.

Fire and Rescue NSW commander Tom Cooper believes the chimney may have been clogged.

“We have reports of a chimney collapsed into the house and reports of another fire on Bridge Street near Crown Street with a shed alight,” he said.

“Crews are on their way, we have two headed to the house fire and two to the shed fire.”

Black plumes of smoke are visible from across town.