A Bay of Islands home has been gutted in a suspected arson attack.
The blaze early yesterday afternoon badly damaged the modest single-storey home off Goffe Drive in Haruru Falls, about 5km from Paihia.
Firefighters were called out just before 12.30pm and were quick to bring the fire under control, but spent
about three hours dampening down.
More than an hour after it started, thick smoke was still billowing from the roof.
One end of the house was burnt out entirely, the other badly damaged by smoke and water. A message spraypainted on the garage was directed at a person living at the address.
Paihia Senior Sergeant Peter Masters said police were treating the fire as arson. The neighbour who called the fire brigade also witnessed suspicious activity shortly before the fire.
The fire scene was now in the hands of the Kaikohe CIB, who were following "positive leads of inquiry".
The Paihia Fire Brigade was first at the scene at the end of a long, metal right-of-way, backed up by Kawakawa and Kerikeri brigades. Paihia chief fire officer Shane Schrafft said strong winds and the home's construction made extinguishing the fire difficult.
