The fire at the former St John’s Orphanage was contained at 7.30pm, NSW Fire and Rescue incident controller Kerri Borchard confirmed.

A total 50 firefighters were on scene, including NSW Fire and Rescue crews from Goulburn, Crookwell, Bowral and Mittagong. Some 20 Rural Fire Service personnel from Mulwaree Support, Parkesbourne, Marulan and Towrang joined the effort.

Ms Borchard said crews tackled the front of the building first before moving around the side. 

“The roof collapsed when we got here and gables and eves were falling off. Roof tiles were also coming off,” she said.

Crews closer in wore breathing apparatus due to the asbestos risk.

Firefighters deployed long hoses tapped into hydrants on Mundy and Combermere Streets and doused “plenty of water” on the blaze, Ms Borchard said.

An aerial appliance arrived from Canberra about 8.30pm to extinguish the last of the fire.

7pm THURSDAY:

Some 20 firefighters are on the scene of another blaze at the former St John’s orphanage in Goulburn.

Fire broke out in the historic complex about 6.15pm Thursday.

NSW Fire and rescue duty commander Bruce Fitzpatrick said the blaze started in the second storey and spread through the roof. It was well involved when crews arrived.

Roof timbers partially collapsed as a result.

“Access is proving a challenge and it’s too dangerous to put crews inside,” he told The Post. 

The Rural Fire Service is assisting NSW Fire and Rescue, which includes units from Bundanoon and Crookwell. An ambulance is on standby. No one has been injured. 

Commander Fitzpatrick said an aerial appliance was on its way to access roof areas.

It’s the second time in about two weeks the 1912 complex has erupted in fire. On October 17 a rear hall caught alight and destroyed much of the building. Police are still investigating.

In November, 2015 much of the main orphanage building’s upper section was burnt in another blaze.

Fire authorities said it was too early to say what caused the current blaze. Crews appear to have the upper hand but are still hard at work.