Toddler thought to have started house fire

A three-year-old boy playing with matches is believed to be responsible for burning down his family home in Lower Hutt this morning.

A family member who lived opposite the house, in Prouse Cres, Naenae, dialled 111 at 9.30am when smoke was seen pouring from the property.

Senior fire officer John Busby said the boy asked his mother for a towel.

A short time later she found it alight in another room, he told Radio New Zealand.

The family of four managed to escape without injury.

The house was gutted.

It is understood that the family only moved into the property last month.

- NZPA