Police believe a lit cigarette is to blame for a fire which destroyed a house at Cessnock last night.
Fire crews from Cessnock and Bellbird arrived at the weatherboard home in Hickey Street just before 9.30pm to find the house engulfed in flames.
Police say the sole occupant, a man in his early 20's, had been smoking in bed and dropped the cigarette, setting the bedclothes alight.
The flames quickly spread to the rest of the house
The man was able to escape unharmed.
