The owner of a central Auckland home ravaged by a blaze this afternoon had recently died and his children were looking after the property, neighbours say.
More than 30 firefighters and eight appliances battled the fire on New North Road in Kingsland this afternoon.
The fire broke out in Kingsland this afternoon. Photo / Supplied by Jeremy Greenbrook-Held
Auckland City Central area commander VaughanMackereth said they were called to a fire in the rear of the house.
"Since then we have surrounded it. We are just containing it. It was reported as persons reported as well and we have one person unaccounted for - but we don't believe that they were home," Mackereth said shortly after 5pm.
"We have done a search and we are just trying to track that person down."
Mackereth said damage had been done to the basement of the house.
Fire investigators are on the scene ready to start determining the cause of the fire.
