The fire broke out in the Plimsoll Place house at about 1am, engulfing the home.

As flames roared into the night sky, a four-wheel-drive parked in front of the home also caught fire.

Rural Fire Service volunteers from Culburra Beach, Callala Bay, Callala Beach, Currarong, Greenwell Point and Illaroo Road and crews from Fire and Rescue NSW Shoalhaven fought the fire, which took four hours to bring under control.

At the height of the blaze nearby residents were evacuated.

Despite the efforts of firefighters the home was completed gutted in the blaze.

Firefighters were praised for their efforts in ensuring the neighbouring residences, and in particular the home to the eastern side, which was being covered by embers from the fire, remained safe.

Fire crews also managed to save a fibro garage, which was less than a metre from the house.

Ambulance attended the scene and transported a man in his 40s to Shoalhaven Hospital with multiple burns.

He was later transferred to Concord Hospital with third degree, full thickness burns to 55 per cent of his body.

Seven children, ranging in ages between 10 and 15, who were also inside the house managed to escape uninjured

South Coast Register