An elderly man has been taken to hospital after a fire broke out in his Woodberry home.
Around 20 firefighters from East Maitland, Minmi, Raymond Terrace and Tarro were called to the small weatherboard home on Peewee Close just before 7.00pm on Wednesday to find a fire in the kitchen had spread to the roof void.
Newcastle Fire Command say an 84-year-old man living at the house was evacuated by neighbours - he suffered smoke inhalation and went into cardiac arrest.
Fire crews administered first aid at the scene before he was taken to hospital by paramedics - he remains in a critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at the John Hunter Hospital.
It took crews about 25 minutes to extinguish the fire, which was confined to the kitchen and roof space.
