But in a positive finish to a devastating afternoon, fire fighters did locate the occupant’s missing dog safely in the laundry.

Emergency services were called to the house, in Belah Street, by a neighbour at 12.55pm on Wednesday.

The occupant had left about 12.15pm.

Mr Clarke said the front of the house was well and truly on fire when fire brigade arrived.

“It was a fairly fierce fire with a lot of black smoke going up through the roof,” he said.

“It had hold of the building so we had to fight the fire from outside.

“But within 10 minutes, about 25 per cent of the roof – and it was a tile roof – collapsed so we couldn’t go in to the building.”

Fears were held for one of the occupant’s dogs which was missing while fire fighters tackled the blaze.

“Afterwards, we were able to get into the laundry at the back which was relatively untouched – it was the only part of the house that was - and there was the little dog,” Mr Clarke said.

Much to everyone’s relief, the dog was safely retrieved and returned to its owner.

Forbes fire brigade captain Brian Clarke said the home and its contents were destroyed, but nobody was injured in the blaze and firefighters did understand the occupant was insured.

Fire fighters did not have any reason to think the fire was suspicious, but the cause will be investigated as standard procedure.

Ambulance and police also attended, along with fire brigades from Parkes, and the street was cordoned off.