A toddler is presumed dead following a fire that destroyed a home in a rural town north west of Sydney, near Lithgow.
While two adults and two children managed to escape the blaze at Capertee around 8am on Saturday, they had to run to the neighbour for help because had no phone reception, a witness said.
"They had to alert the neighbours who had to come to the police station, had no joy there and they came here," the local man, who did not wish to be named, told AAP.
"My wife had to make the call (to triple zero)."
By then the home was already engulfed with flames arcing three metres out the windows with the toddler, a girl, trapped inside, he said.
"It's absolutely tragic," the local man said.
"I went up to the house, he (the father) was frantic. They were standing there in their underclothes, didn't have time to grab anything else.
"My wife took clothes up for the woman to put on. She was in a state of shock."
Locals have begun to rally by offering clothes and accommodation for the family, who are known in the rural town, he said.
"They've got nothing."
Firefighters will search for the child once the house has been deemed safe, NSW Police said.
The two adults and two children were treated for minor injuries.
