The cause of a fire at an unoccupied home in Bellevue, Tauranga is under investigation.
Tauranga senior station officer Len Sabin said the fire started on the outside deck of an unoccupied home in Oriana Crescent this afternoon
Fire fighters responded to a 111 call received at 2.18pm after a fire which started on the deck near a barbecue, break through a window and spread inside the lounge, he said.
Two appliances from the Tauranga station and a third from Mount Maunanganui attended.
Sabin said the neighbours of the unoccupied home had done a "good job" containing the fire with a garden hose until fire crews arrived.