Russell Crowe's angry neighbours claim star given VIP treatment in bushfires

Russell Crowe's neighbours have claimed their houses were left to burn while fire trucks passed by to save the Hollywood star's mansion.

The Gladiator star lives with his family in Nana Glen in New South Wales, Australia which is currently being ravaged by bushfires.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service deny claims they prioritised Crowe's home above others in the area when called out on Tuesday.

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But furious neighbour Debbie Waldon told Seven News: “I'm angry because our friends house is there burning and all the trucks go to Russell Crowe's. What about normal, everyday people?”

NSW Rural Fire Service told Daily Mail Australia: "Firefighters are not aware of whose homes they are being sent to – aerial crews wouldn’t be aware of whose property they are going to either.

"Crews are dispatched on priority of jobs and the properties that need it the most, we are not aware of who owns the properties."

Some homes in the area were just metres away from being destroyed by the wild fires before helicopters were called in to water-bomb the flames.

Nana Glen has been declared an emergency zone as services work to bring the fires under control.

Crowe, 55, has not commented on the claims. But he has tweeted Australian musician Troy Casser-Daley encouraging him to use the NSW Rural Fire Service app.

The country singer had revealed his mother had been evacuated from her home and appealed to his Twitter followers for help on finding out what the latest news was on the fires.

Crowe replied: “Get the app mate.”

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The Oscar-winning actor married his ex-wife Danielle Spencer in the grounds of the 400-hectare estate in 2003. Their divorce was finalised last year and they share custody of sons Charles, 15, and Tennyson, 13.

At 7pm on Tuesday there were more than 70 fires burning in both NSW and Queensland with up to 20,000 firefighters working to try and stop them spreading. The military are also preparing to use helicopters to evacuate residents whose lives are at risk.