Police, fire investigators and firefighters remain at scene of contained Kootingal shed fire as crews work to cool scene

A blaze broke out inside a storage facility at a Kootingal property just before 8am this morning, sparking a lengthy emergency response.

Tamworth area Rural Fire Service (RFS) Superintendent Allyn Purkiss said crews had worked extremely hard to stop flames from spreading to nearby sheds, including one which housed chickens.

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He said specialist fire investigators had arrived at the scene on Monday afternoon, as well as police, to try and determine how the shed caught alight.

Investigations are ongoing.

Superintendent Purkiss said it was a "huge job" this morning to get the fierce fire under control and thanked all emergency services and volunteers for their actions.

He said an ambulance had been on standby one man had a lucky escape and avoided hospitalisation after it was thought he inhaled too much smoke, but had actually overexerted himself in the firefighting effort.

RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue teams are expected to remain at the Kootingal property into the afternoon as they pull the shed apart with an excavator in an effort to cool it down after the fire ripped through.

"We need it [the excavator] to get some of the shed pulled apart that we can't get to from the ground," he said.

"We can't get at it properly because the shed has metal on the outside and a timber frame and timber roof.

"Because of that there was some spots we can't get into because it's too dangerous."

FIREFIGHTERS are battling a fierce blaze at a property near Tamworth in an effort to stop flames spreading to nearby sheds.

Several trucks from the local NSW Fire and Rescue and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) rushed to the Yarrol Road farm at Kootingal, which is understood to house chickens, after an emergency call just before 8am this morning.

RFS Superintendent Allyn Purkiss told the Leader crews were working extremely hard and "actively firefighting" to control the blaze which broke out in a storage shed.

He said the shed was alight and there was lots of smoke but the priority at the moment was to stop flames from spreading to nearby structures, including a shed believed to have chickens in it.

He said no injuries had been reported at this stage and no one was inside the shed when the fire started, but firefighters planned to have an ambulance on standby shortly to assist if needed.

Eight trucks were at the scene by 9am and more support people were on the way.

More to come.

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