Napier house fire in Maraenui collapses roof, no injuries reported

Smoke continues to billow from the house after crews had extinguished most of the fire. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine

A house fire in suburban Napier has sent plumes of smoke billowing across the city and collapsed the building’s roof.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews arrived at the fire on Mason Ave, in Maraenui, at 9am today.

Fire and Emergency said there were initial concerns that people were trapped inside the burning house, but there were no reports of injuries.

Three crews and a support crew were sent to the scene, and a specialist fire investigator had been called in.

Some of the neighbours did their best to alert anyone inside to get out.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the heat was so fierce that he couldn’t get inside, and he was unsure whether anyone was in the house.

Fire and Emergency crews at the scene of the fire in Maraenui. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine

Another neighbour, who also did not want to be named, said an elderly woman lived at the house and would sometimes have people staying with her.

She was not sure whether the woman was home at the time of the fire.

“You could feel the heat coming out and you could hear popping,” she said.

Hato Hone St John said one ambulance responded to a call, but was not needed.

Another nearby resident said flames were coming out of the window with lots of black smoke. A neighbour had a hose out and was trying to help before more firefighters arrived.

About 20 minutes into the fire, the roof “just dropped” and collapsed at the rear of the house, the witness said.

Many of the windows blew out during the fire, and about half the roof collapsed.