A Rotorua father believes three mystery men saved his family's lives by banging on their doors and windows as fire swept through their roof.
Sanjay Mistry, 34, said the men's banging alerted his wife Ketu to the fire at their Phillip St, Victoria, home. He was in a bedroom, asleep with their daughter Vidhi, 3, when the fire started, around 9.15pm on Tuesday.
"She [his wife] came out of the bathroom and the lights went out," he said.
"Then there was banging on the door. She called out 'Sanjay, what's happening?' I jumped out of bed and opened another bedroom door and smoke came out.
"It was the most scary thing. Those three guys knew what was happening before us. They definitely saved our lives.
"They made sure we were all safe. I told them 'thank you'."
Rotorua fire safety investigator Stuart Bootten said the family had working smoke alarms. He said the fire was not believed to be suspicious and he was investigating an electrical cause.
The fire damaged the roof space and destroyed clothes in a wardrobe, as well as causing other damage in the back bedroom. That room is the main bedroom, but Mr Mistry said it was too cold to sleep in during winter so he and his wife slept in the same room as their daughter. "We had a lucky escape."
Mr Mistry said the three men also attempted to battle the blaze with his garden hose, before two appliances from the Rotorua fire brigade arrived on the scene.
The fire also claimed his wife's wedding dress and jewellery.
"We can replace clothes. We're okay, that's the main thing."