Baby suffers smoke inhalation from fire

A baby suffered smoke inhalation after a fire which started in the kitchen of an Auckland home overnight.

A spokesman from the northern region fire communications centre said the baby and another person, believed to be a parent, were taken to hospital when cooking oil ignited on a stove.

The incident happened at a home in Mangere East soon after midnight and was one of two in the city in which occupants had a lucky escape.

A second fire broke out under a deck in a Browns Bay home about an hour later and was understood to have originated from a discarded cigarette butt.

The occupants at one stage feared they were trapped inside but were able to escape without injury.

The spokesman said the extent of the damage in either house was unclear.

- NZPA