A firefighter responding to a huge blaze that engulfed a sprawling Airbnb home has died after a tragic accident.

In a “cruel twist”, the 51-year-old was killed when a beam fell on him while battling the inferno north-west of Sydney on Tuesday morning.

The property with a pool and tennis court, which advertises it can sleep 16 people, burst into flames around 8am in Grose Vale.

Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the firefighter he knew well was “impacted by what appears to be a fallen beam”.

“There’s no nice time for these things to happen but it’s a particularly cruel twist two weeks out from Christmas, to lose a cherished family member.”

Colleagues from FRNSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service dragged the man from the house and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The firefighter worked on-call for FRNSW, which is more prevalent in regional areas. They are notified of calls for help through a pager.

Fire and Rescue NSW said it was working with other authorities to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

It will also provide support to the man’s family, crew and colleagues.

Police are investigating and the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

NSW Premier Chris Minns offered his condolences.

“To take on a job like this takes true bravery, and it’s a debt that we can’t ever begin to repay,” said Minns.

“No family ever should ever have to hear this news and my thoughts are with them.”

-with AAP