Mount Maunganui fire crews put out three vehicles ablaze near home overnight

Three vehicles were left charred after being engulfed by flames in Mount Maunganui overnight. Photo / Bijou Johnson

The cause of a three-vehicle fire that threatened a Mount Maunganui home this morning remains under investigation.

Emergency services were called to the burning vehicles parked on the corner of Grove and Muricata Aves about 1am on Thursday.

Three vehicles were damaged by fire in Mount Maunganui overnight. Photo / Bijou Johnson

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said the vehicles - two utes and a car - were well ablaze and the fire was endangering a residential house and fence, he said.

The cars were parked on the grass berm to the side of Lynn and Kurt Edmonds’ fenced home.

“We were scared the fire would spread to our house,” Lynn told NZME this morning.

One of their windows looks straight at the fence adjoining the strip where the vehicles, which did not belong to them, were parked.

“When we looked outside, all we could see was flames. The glass was so hot we thought it might explode.”

Their house wasn’t damaged, but Lynn said the downpipes had melted and the fence was blackened.

Three fire crews attended the incident in Mount Maunganui. Photo / Supplied

They weren’t alerted by solely noise or heat. Lynn said the smell of burning rubber also awoke her.

She and Kurt evacuated their home soon after calling the fire brigade at 1.07am. Emergency services had already been contacted.

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said three crews attended and it took about 45 minutes for them to put the fires out.

He said crews also contained fuel that was running from the vehicles.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said this afternoon a Specialist Fire Investigator had attended the scene, and an investigation into the cause of the fire was ongoing.

A police spokeswoman said they were notified about 1.20am of three vehicles on fire on the corner.

The noise, heat and smell of burning rubber woke a couple living near the fire. Photo / Supplied

“Police attended and found the owners of the vehicles and some neighbours watching the fire before the fire was extinguished by Fire and Emergency.

“No injuries were reported and a scene guard is in place while police make inquiries.”

Police have clarified the event was originally thought to be a disorder, but that did not appear to be the case.

Police said this afternoon they were making enquiries into a report of wilful damage.

“If you have information that can assist in our enquiries, please contact us through 105 online or by phone.

“Please use the reference number 251002/9533.”