Two people are “currently outstanding” after a large house fire in East Auckland.
Bucklands Beach residents were jolted awake by a “loud pop” in the early hours of this morning before spotting a swarm of police and fire trucks in their street.
Emergency services were called to Murvale Drive around 2.30am after a blaze tore through a two-storey home, leaving it badly damaged.
Police this morning said: “At this stage we can advise that two people are currently outstanding.”
Counties Manukau CIB Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua said police were “urgently” searching for those unaccounted for.
“We are working to establish what has occurred and urgently locate the people unaccounted for.
“Three further people have been taken to hospital with injuries ranging from serious to minor.”
Va’aelua said an investigation was underway by police and Fire and Emergency.
Police were seen using a drone to examine the damaged property.
Officers would remain on the scene with cordons established on Murvale Drive, between Janome Pl and Jandell Cres, said Va’aelua.
A homeowner on the street said he awoke to the sound of sirens early this morning after 2am.
“I think everybody woke up.
“It sounded like they broke the door down or something like that because of the fire,” he said, describing hearing banging noises.
He couldn’t see the fire from his window, but he could smell the smoke strongly from inside his house despite having all his windows and doors closed.
Fire crews battled the flames into the night, with neighbours reporting smoke billowing from smashed windows. Police have cordoned off part of the street while a fire investigator is due to return to the scene today to determine the cause.
Hours after the blaze, the Bucklands Beach street still smells of smoke.
Three police cars, a Fire and Emergency vehicle and a fire truck remain at the scene, with part of the road cordoned off.
A spokesperson said five fire engines, one command unit, and one support vehicle were initially dispatched to the scene.
Photos from the two-storey home show the blaze had gutted the insides, with walls reduced to blackened rubble and smoke continuing to pour out of the smashed windows.
Firefighters can be seen using flashlights and head torches to survey the extensive damage inside.
Another neighbour who had lived on the street for 40 years said police “poured down the street” in the early hours of the morning.
“Then the fire brigade and ambulance came… police were here well before the fire brigade, and heaps of them.”
He was surprised he couldn’t smell smoke or see flames after seeing the number of emergency services on the street.
“I only (found out) it was a fire this morning,” the man said.
Another neighbour said he walked down the street after hearing the commotion at around 4am.
“I just heard all the sirens and all that, so I just went down.
“When I came out, I could smell the smoke, and you could see a haze like a fog, just all around.“
Hato Hone St John said two people, one in a serious and the other in a moderate condition, were taken to Middlemore Hospital.
A third person suffering minor injuries was assessed by paramedics and treated at the scene.
They referred to Police for more information.
A Herald photographer at the scene said police had established cordons on either side of the fire at the intersection with Janome Pl.
A police car was blocking Gills Rd as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.
The photographer said neighbours watched on as the fire tore through the home, while others provided statements to police.
The spokesperson said some crews remain dampening down hot spots.
Police and St John have been approached for comment.