House fire in Omokoroa

A house fire that gutted the top story of an Omokoroa home is today being investigated by fire officials.

More than a dozen firefighters spent about three hours battling a house fire in Omokora last night.

When firefighters from Omokoroa Volunteer Brigade arrived at Harbour View Rd just after 5pm, the top floor of the two storey house was "completely involved" said fire chief Ian Blunt.

"The windows had already gone and flames were coming out the windows."

The Omokoroa firefighters were assisted by fire crews from Greerton and Waihi.

In total, there were 18 firemen on site - eight used breathing apparatus - and four fire trucks.

Mr Blunt said the fire damaged the majority of the top floor, while the bottom floor received water damage.

He said firefighters could not go through the roof to dampen down the hot spots, because the "steep pitched roof was severely burnt" and they couldn't take the roof off because "there was not much structure left underneath".

A firefighter from Greerton station said there was no one inside the house when firefighters arrived.

Firefighters left the scene about 8pm.

Tauranga Fire Safety Officer Ken McKeagg was called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.