Smoke alarm alerts sleeping man to fire

A Whangarei man was lucky to escape from his blazing home at the weekend.

The Fire Service was called after a fire broke out in the kitchen of the Raumanga Heights Dr address.

Smoke alarms fitted in the rented property have been credited with alerting the sleeping man, allowing him to escape and raise the alarm.

While the cause is still being investigated it appeared the occupant had started cooking a meal and then taken a nap at about 2.20am on Saturday, senior station officer Brad Cunningham said.

"He woke up to see smoke coming from the kitchen, by the time he got out the fire was well involved and there was substantial damage to the home."

The man believed the alarm had saved his life, he said.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)