Occupants escape as house seriously damaged in Mt Wellington fire

One person has been injured after a house in Mt Wellington erupted into flames this afternoon.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said three fire crews were sent to the Panorama Rd fire at 2.30pm.

An ambulance was also sent to the scene as there was a report of an occupant with smoke inhalation.

"It is a 100sq m house that was fully involved in fire when crews first arrived. It has now been contained and we are ventilating the house.

"A team of specialist fire investigators is also on their way to determine a cause."

The spokesman said the house suffered serious damage.

He said people were in the house when the fire started but they all managed to escape.

A witness to the fire said when he arrived the house was smoking heavily and then erupted into flames.

"There were people yelling that there were people inside but the lady who was inside actually was out on the road.

"It appeared to be the whole house that was in flames. There was more fire at one end of the house than the other. It appeared to be at the back of the house but it moved to the front pretty rapidly.

"Flames started coming out the side of the house and I actually had to grab a station officer because it was getting close to a neighbour's caravan."

The witness said the house appeared to be a unit in a row of four or five houses.

"I think the house will be a write-off as it was completely black inside from where I could see through the front door."