Trio sent to Youth Aid after house fire

The three boys were allegedly captured on CCTV, two minutes before smoke was seen coming from an address in Kaikohe. Photo / File

Three Kaikohe boys have been referred to Youth Aid after allegedly setting a house alight on Monday.

The boys, aged 12, 11 and 10, were allegedly captured on CCTV leaving the address on Raihara St two minutes before smoke was seen at the property.

Detective Constable Shawn Parker said the footage allowed Kaikohe police to identify the boys within minutes.

The house was unoccupied at the time of the blaze.

Kaikohe chief fire officer Bill Hutchinson said the fire was contained to the rear of the property, mainly focused in a laundry.

Two Kaikohe fire units, one from Kerikeri and one from Okaihau, attended the scene at 4.30pm on Monday.

"The fire got into the roof space, which is always a concern with house fires, so we had to pull the roof off," Mr Hutchinson said.

Police are still investigating the fire; anyone with information can contact the Kaikohe police on (09) 405 2960 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The incident follows an arson in Otangarei on Sunday where a home was destroyed on William Jones Drive after fires were deliberately lit in several rooms.