Accelerant was used in a suspicious Hamilton fire, says a neighbour.
The occupants remained oblivious until newly installed smoke alarms sounded and the owner scrambled for a garden hose to douse the flames until firefighters arrived.
The neighbour, who declined to be named, said several people lived in the house on Ohaupo Rd/State Highway 3, the main road into the city from the south.
The woman said she approached the owner shortly after the 7.35am fire and said he told her that petrol was poured around the outside of the house.
Detective Sergeant Terri Wilson said whether accelerant was used would be determined by fire safety officers at the scene.