An extended family of five's Bridge Pa house was badly damaged by fire last night.
A neighbour and relative of the family, who were out at the time, said her grandson alerted her to the fire.
The woman, who asked to not be named, said two of her grandsons ran to the Ngatarawa Rd house but could not gain entry.
"The house was fully lit," she said.
Fire engines and water tankers sped to the the newly-renovated stuccoed house.
Hastings Fire Station senior officer Mike Peachey said it took 10 to 15 minutes to extinguish the blaze but considerably longer to damp it down, to ensure it was fully extinguished.
It was not apparent what caused the blaze but it appeared to have started in the lounge.
"There is an open fire in there and something may have rolled out, but we haven't had a good look yet to confirm what the cause was," he said.