Arson probe as fire destroys unoccupied home

GUTTED: A firefighter steps out the front door of a Rexwood St property, Carterton, gutted in a suspicious early morning blaze. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

A blaze which gutted an unoccupied Carterton house early yesterday is being treated as suspicious.

Four fire appliances from Carterton, Greytown and Masterton rushed to Rexwood St at 3am and firefighters found the house engulfed in flame.

Initial fears for two missing occupants were allayed when it was determined no one was home at the time.

A breathing apparatus tender from Avalon was called in to provide support for the firefighters' oxygen equipment.

The 1920s bungalow was on the market priced at $240,000.

Carterton fire chief Wayne Robinson said it was a relief no one was home.

"Normally we turn up at a house at night, someone's there," he said.

"We had three crews, we searched the house, and no one was in."

Ironically, the fire was close to Mr Robinson's house, meaning he had to drive by it on his way to the station to get kitted up.

He said it was "going well" when they arrived, but with 30 firefighters it did not take long to bring under control.

"In an old building, all timber, and sarking covered with gib, there's these different layers, which keep a lot of hot spots in."

He said police and a fire investigation officer would attend the site to determine the cause of the blaze.

"It's being treated as suspicious."