Fireys tackle house fire in southern Sydney

Firefighters are battling a house fire in southern Sydney.

Crews were called to the weatherboard home in Woodstock Street, Botany, just after 6pm by neighbours.

An elderly man had managed to flee the blazing house and was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation, a spokesman for NSW Fire and Rescue told Nine.com.au.

Twenty firefighters and five fire trucks are at the scene.

The fire is burning fiercely due to a large amount of combustible material inside, the spokesman said.

Crews are currently completing a search inside the house.

It is unclear if neighbouring homes have been damaged, although nearby residents have been affected by smoke.