Fire forces boarding house evacuation

Sixteen boarding house residents were forced to evacuate their building when a fire broke out late last night in Auckland.

Inspector Ian Brooker said the 16 men from the boarding house in New North Road, Kingsland, were left with only the clothes they were wearing.

The alarm was raised at about 11.15pm.

Fire shift manager Brent Dunn said initial reports to the fire brigade suggested a person was trapped.

He said the fire was already well under way by the time four pumps and an aerial appliance arrived at the scene.

Mr Dunn said fire safety officers were investigating the cause of the fire but it was being treated as suspicious.

A police spokesman said its Northern Communications Centre staff spent some time assisting the owner of the boarding house in locating alternative overnight accommodation for the residents at backpacker hostels around the city.

- NZHERALD STAFF and NZPA