Fire guts Manurewa house

Neighbours kicked in the door of this Manurewa house to see if anyone was inside after in caught fire. Photo / Ben Hill

Neighbours kicked in the door and broke windows of a burning house to check if anyone was inside.

The house on Tawa Crescent home in Manurewa, south Auckland was gutted by fire today.

There were initial reports someone was still inside but firefighters at the scene said a search of the house found no one.

A spokeswoman said the home was engulfed by fire by the time the first crew arrived at the residential address.

A number of concerned neighbours had raised the alarm shortly after midday.

Firefighters outside a house that was gutted on Tawa Cres. Photo / Ben Hill

Next-door neighbours Ben and Kelly were quick to act when they noticed the fire.

"I'd got back from work and was on the back deck having a coffee, and I smelt smoke so I ran over," Ben told the Herald.

Kelly kicked down the door during the blaze while Ben ripped a window open, as they were worried that someone was in the house.

Kelly said she was unscathed after facing the fore, although her knee was "a bit sore".

Two fire engines were at the scene, together with police.

A Fire Service spokesman said the house was "gutted", but no one was inside when they put it out.