KEY POINTS:
Firefighters were kept busy with two separate fires in the Manawatu overnight.
The first blaze at a house in Hartgill Street, Dannevirke, started around 2.40am, central fire communications shift manager Chris Dalton said.
Two fire appliances initially answered the call but another two appliance had to be called in, he said.
"The fire was well involved when we got there.
"It (the house) had a concrete tile roof so that kind of keeps all the heat in."
Mr Dalton said people were in the house when the fire started but got out without injury.
Firefighters were still on the scene at 7am.
Shortly after 5am firefighters were called to Hokowhitu School in Palmerston North after reports that the gym was on fire.
"It turned out to be a shed on fire behind the gym," Mr Dalton said.
Fire Safety officers were investigating the blaze but it was not yet know if it was suspicious, he said.
- NZPA
