House saved from kitchen blaze

Flames and smoke greet the Kaikohe fire brigade at Ngawha Springs on Monday. Photo / Debbie Beadle

Volunteer firefighters saved a house in Ngawha Springs after a blaze, thought to have been started by a pot left on the stove. Kaikohe fire brigade was called to Puia St about 9.50am on Monday and arrived in time to save the weatherboard home from major damage, fire chief Bill Hutchinson said.

"We certainly knocked it. [The house] is still in pretty good shape," he said.

The occupant's nephew called the brigade when he saw smoke. No one was home at the time but the nephew said he checked to make sure no one was inside.

It looked as though a pot had been left on the stove. Mr Hutchinson said there was little doubt that the blaze started in the kitchen but that would be officially determined by a fire investigator.