Two calls to house fire in Anzac Parade, Whanganui

Firefighters work to contain a fire in Whanganui's Anzac Pde. Photo / Bevan Conley

Smoke billowed from the upstairs window of a row house on Anzac Pde, Whanganui on the last day of 2019 - the result of a fire that is being investigated as suspicious.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand was called to the house twice on Tuesday, once at 1.35pm and again at 3.18pm.

There were two fire trucks there by 3.30pm, with crews using hoses, ladders and breathing apparatus.

The road was closed and a lot of neighbours were out on the street watching.

Fire had affected the unit next door, but was contained by 4.15pm, Fire and Emergency central communications shift manager Chris Dalton said.

An investigator had been contacted to determine the cause of the fire, Dalton said.

A police spokeswoman said police received a report of a smoke alarm activation on Anzac Pde about 1.35pm on Tuesday.

"Police attended in a traffic control capacity," she said.

"Later in the day, about 3.20pm, a second fire at the same address was reported. Police was asked to attend, as it was considered suspicious."

Inquiries into the cause of the fire are still in progress, she said.

On New Year's Day firefighters spent nearly eight hours dealing with a fire at Kai Iwi Beach.

Fire and Emergency central communications shift manager David Meikel said crews were called about 4.20am on Wednesday to a pile of burning driftwood.

After the fire was extinguished, firefighters spent hours damping down hotspots.