Flaxmere house 'unliveable' after fire ravages lounge

Fire investigators at the Margate St house on Friday morning. Photo / Warren Buckland

A Flaxmere house ravaged by fire on Friday is so badly damaged that it is now unsafe to live in.

Police and fire investigators were called to a Margate Ave house up in flames about 2.45am on Friday.

Hawke's Bay fire area commander Ken Cooper said the house was a single-storey house which was occupied, but not at the time of the fire.

Damage to the house on Friday morning. Photo / Warren Buckland

"A member of the public called in the fire.

"The owners of the house were staying with their friends at the time.

"The fire started in the lounge and resulted in the roof collapsing."

Cooper said there was significant damage done to the property and "unfortunately it was not safe enough to go back inside to check whether they had a working fire alarm".

"The property is unliveable," Cooper said.

Three fire trucks, from Hastings and Napier stations, as well as support units fought the blaze until it was put out about 4am.

The fire is being investigated by police and the cause is yet to be determined.