Tyler Fufalko charged after fire at Auburn St Thomas’ Anglican Church building 

A man who was charged after a fire engulfed a church and caused it to collapse has applied for bail. Firefighters responding to the blaze were forced to retreat moments before the structure gave way.

Firefighters were forced to retreat from a burning church in Sydney’s west only moments before it collapsed. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

A 27-year-old man charged with arson after a fire ripped through St Thomas’ Anglican Church building at Auburn on Thursday has been granted bail.

A court heard Auburn police charged Tyler Fufalko with possessing a prohibited drug and breach of bail before he was taken to hospital for treatment.

Following more investigations, he was also charged with damaging property by fire.

He was given bail at Burwood Court on Friday, where he is due to return on March 21.

Under his bail conditions, Mr Fufalko must report to Blacktown police station daily, live at Doonside and not leave unless with his mother, not drink alcohol or take drugs and post a $5000 surety.

Emergency services rushed to contain the blaze after reports of a fire at Provincial St about 3pm, with as many as 16 fire trucks and 50 firefighters responding.

St Thomas’ Anglican Church' in Auburn was damaged in a fire on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, entered the building to search for people but were forced back by the intense heat and flames. A short time later, a building located next to the church collapsed.

There were no reports of injuries or anyone unaccounted for.

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said the main church building was unaffected by the blaze.

“A hall building out of the back was involved in the fire,” he said. “Fire crews have stopped the fire from spreading to adjoining halls, and to neighbouring properties.”

Emergency crews had previously established a defensive perimeter when they helped clear neighbouring properties under threat and worked to contain the fire.

Fire at St Thomas’ Anglican Church in Provincial St, Auburn. Firefighters lost the 150-year-old old hall and shed at the rear but managed to save the church and neighbouring homes. Picture: Simon Bullard

Fatuma Habane, who was in her house directly behind the church at the time of the incident, said she heard “knocking” and “screaming” from outside.

“At first I thought it was just kids,” Ms Habane said, before neighbours told her about the fire.

She said her house had been burnt by the flames.

“I was scared at that moment – I just rushed down because they were saying it might explode; I rushed out with no pants, just shirt and underwear,” Ms Habane said.

“This fire happened so fast there was no time.’’