Family flees from Whangarei fire

Special fire investigator Craig Bain investigates the cause of a Whangarei house fire. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

A family of five fled for their lives as a fire ripped through their Whangarei home in the early hours of this morning.

The fire broke out at about 2am at the house on Walker Crescent in Whau Valley, a fire service spokesman said.

Two adults and three children were in the house at the time but managed to escape unharmed.

Four fire appliances from Whangarei and Kamo were at the property for almost four hours, the spokesman said.

The cause of the fire, which gutted the house, was still unclear this morning.