Boxing Day devastation as Sydney home destroyed in 'massive' blaze

Devastation has struck a southern Sydney family after a "massive" fire erupted in their garage on Boxing Day, destroying their home and damaging a neighbouring property.

Emergency services were called to a home in Miranda about 8pm last night after reports of smoke billowing out of a house.

Acting Superintendent Tony Picone said the blaze began in the garage and spread to the property's roof and then into the neighbouring house where a couple was house-sitting for their son.

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Firefighters stopped the blaze from spreading further into the roof space of the neighbouring home.

But the garage and the house of origin were destroyed.

The homeowner and his family were visiting friends at the time the fire started in the garage.

Picone said about 15 firetrucks attended with around 65 firefighters in total.

He added fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

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But neighbours were shocked by the size and quick spread of the fire overnight.

"The flames were above the height of the roof," John Collins said.

"Enormous flames within three or four minutes."

Another neighbour, Doug Stevenson, said he had never seen anything like it before.

"We saw smoke billowing through the roof and flames pouring out the garage."

"It was a massive fire."