As a Norsewood home was engulfed in fire, flames were leaping 30 feet into the air, shocked witnesses said.
The owner of the property, Peter Olsen, was away when it exploded into fire, with emergency services called at 9.30am yesterday.
"Things were exploding and it was roaring and so hot," Ormondville brigade deputy fire chief Jo Read told the Dannevirke News.
"When we get a K99 call we know it's fully involved and it was well ablaze when we arrived."
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus continued to fight the blaze with spectators kept well back because of concerns about unknown chemicals on the property, Norsewood's police officer Constable Brett Wakelin said.
There was a massive callout of firefighters from Norsewood, Ormondville, Tikokino, Takapau and Hastings, plus two appliances from Dannevirke, as well as back-up from rural fire.
While everything was destroyed, the cat at the property was rescued by Mr Wakelin who took it to safety in the adjoining hayshed, before Norsewood's cat rescue mother and daughter team came and took it to their cattery.
"It's a beautiful, fluffy tortoiseshell cat and so lucky to escape," neighbour Lyn McConchie said.