Bendemeer fire: Reels of film destroyed in suspicious blaze, Oxley police investigate

Firefighters were called to a garage fire at Bendemeer about 7am on Saturday, but unfortunately the building couldn't be saved.

A trailer and engine in the garage were also lost, Bendemeer Rural Fire Service (RFS) captain Ken Gilvear said.

"When we got there, the Watson's Creek brigade was already there; they had extinguished the grass fire but didn't have enough water to extinguish the shed, so they protected the house," he said.

"From what I was told, the owner is in hospital. He had some sort of accident at home and, by the time someone found, him his kidneys had started to fail.

"It's suspicious, given the owner is in hospital. There were some fairly fresh wheel tracks in and out of the front gate."

It took firefighters from Bendemeer, Warrabah, Watson's Creek and Kootingal about an hour and a half to control the blaze.

The crews were on their way to the Halls Creek fire when they got the emergency call.

Given the dangerous fire conditions and how stretched RFS volunteers already are, Mr Gilvear said the fire could have caused more issues.

"It's crazy if someone has deliberately lit that, given it was a shed full of film," he said.

It wasn't the only suspicious fire in the region on Sunday, when a total fire ban was in place for the Northern Slopes and New England.

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Tamworth Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to an abandoned house in Coledale in the early hours of the morning.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the rear of the house, which had been boarded up, was well alight.

Police are investigating the cause of the fires.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or Tamworth Police Station on 6768 2999.

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