Boys' fireworks destroy Parnell home

Thick smoke spreads over Parnell as flames engulf the house. The police are investigating why the boys were home alone. Picture / Andrew Alcock

Two young boys home alone and playing with fireworks are believed responsible for a blaze that destroyed a house in Parnell yesterday.

Fire safety investigators last night said fireworks were lit under the two-storey, detached wooden house.

The boys escaped unharmed and firefighters on the roof also had a close call when a large portion of the Brighton Rd building collapsed as they fought to stop the blaze spreading to other houses.

One firefighter was taken to hospital with an injured ankle after falling on the steep east-facing section.

The Fire Service said the boys were alone in the house when clouds of smoke began spewing from the windows about 4.20pm.

A television report said the boys were 11 and 13. It is illegal for parents to leave children under 14 home alone without reasonable cause.

The service's northern communications centre confirmed that police are investigating the blaze, and a city council building inspector is looking into why the structure collapsed.

The Fire Service said one of several emergency calls about the fire came from the boys.

But by the time the first firefighters arrived, the entire house was burning. It took 34 firefighters more than an hour to control the blaze, during which time it threatened a neighbouring house, an old wooden villa and a row of apartments.

A neighbour took care of the boys afterwards. The woman, who did not want to be named, said they were shaken but unharmed.

Another neighbour, in her 50s, said the boys had been letting off fireworks in the house. A group of teenagers from the area confirmed her comments.

Chris Scott, senior station officer for Auckland City Central Fire District, said the fireworks were let off underneath rather than inside the house.

"At this point, we're working on the basis that kids were letting off fireworks under the house," he said.

Matches, a cigarette lighter and fireworks were found in bushes next to the house, he said.

The chief fire officer for Auckland Central, Brian Edwards, said it was lucky no one was seriously hurt.

Mr Edwards said firefighters were caught off guard when the house collapsed. "We didn't have any indications it would happen."

He said it was unusual for the frame of a burning building to give way, which suggested the residence was structurally unsound.

The building inspector would examine a small portion of the house that had not fallen down.