Fire broke out in the Pike Street brick veneer dwelling shortly after 9am, only minutes after the couple had seen their three children off to school and had left for work.

By the time fire brigade trucks and personnel arrived on the scene, minutes after the blaze broke out, the fire had taken a firm grip with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Within minutes the roof cavity had collapsed as the fire-fighters, donning breathing apparatus, fought desperately to save what they could of the structure as well as protect neighbouring dwellings.

Ambulance officers were called to the scene but no one was injured in the blaze as police cordoned off the area over concerns of the presence of asbestos.

The owner and police aided, by fire-fighters, released the family’s dog, uninjured, from the backyard.

The fire was extinguished by 10am.

 A police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances and investigators were still on the scene attempting to find what caused the blaze.