Four house-fire deaths in as many days have sparked pleas for NSW residents to ensure their homes have proper safety measures in place.

A 97-year-old man became the latest victim when a Hunter region home burnt down this morning.

Emergency crews arrived at the home in Woodberry, near Maitland, about 5.30am to find it engulfed in flames.

The body of the elderly man was found in the wreckage, but the man's son, aged in his 60s, and his teenage grandson were able to make it out of the house safely.

A five-year-old girl died yesterday when she became trapped in her family's home, also in Woodberry, after the fire broke out about 10am.

Her grandmother managed to escape with a seven-year-old child before crews worked for more than an hour to extinguish the blaze.

Earlier in the day, fire crews were called to a burning home at Hamilton, in Newcastle's west, about 6.15am.

They dragged a 55-year-old unconscious man to safety and rushed him to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

He was transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital and died the same day.

On Thursday, an 83-year-old man died in a house fire in Ashfield, in Sydney's inner-west.

Firefighters were called to the burning home about 3.30pm and rescued the man who died at the scene.

NSW Fire Brigades Commissioner Greg Mullins said today residents should review their fire safety procedures.

"I'm appealing to all NSW residents to make sure they have working smoke alarms, home escape plans, and to be extremely careful with heaters, fires and cooking," Commissioner Mullins said in a statement.

"This is especially important during the winter months when we use heaters, open fires, clothes dryers, and electrical appliances, and tend to cook more hot meals,."

Residents are urged to visit www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au and www.3minutes.com.au for fire safety tips.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/four-housefire-deaths-prompt-warning-to-residents-20100808-11pyx.html