A group of children is believed to have started a shed fire in Hastings this afternoon which spread to nearby apartments.
Fire, ambulance and police were in attendance at the Star Flats apartments and it's now believed the fire has been put out.
Resident, Karen Hempel said she heard yelling, banging noises and smoke, before she called emergency services.
She believes four children between the ages of five and eight were playing with matches by the building.
"It went from being a little smouldering fire to a huge explosion".
A police spokeswoman said emergency services were called at 1.26pm to what was initially reported as a shed fire.
She said it was believed to have spread to the neighbouring flats.
Fire communications shift manager Murray Dunbar said the fire had been extinguished and the shed had been destroyed.
He said two appliances had attended.