Fire badly damages house

Photo / File

Electrial fault likely cause of kitchen blaze

A house has been left gutted after a fire in Kawaha Point.

Rotorua firefighters were called to the Aquarius Drive property just before 2am yesterday.

Senior Station Officer Jim Prescott said when the crew arrived the fire was well alight.

"It started in the kitchen area and we suspect it to be an electrical fault. The damage to the house is pretty extensive, the occupants all managed to get out."

There was believed to be up to five occupants inside the house at the time.

Two trucks from Rotorua spent nearly four hours at the scene.

Mr Prescott said a fire investigator was determining the exact cause.

"This is a good reminder for people to check their smoke detectors and make sure they have working batteries in them," Mr Prescott added.

Fire crews have also been busy dealing with at least three scrub fires over the past couple of weeks near the wastewater treatment station off Te Ngae Rd. "We had two water tankers, three fire engines and rural fire attend," Mr Prescott said.

The fires were extensive.

"It appears they were deliberately lit and had the potential to have got out of hand.

"But luckily it rained a couple of days ago, dampening down the area."

Mr Prescott wanted to issue a festive reminder of the dangers of drinking, leaving the stove on and dozing off.

"It's best to get takeaway food," he said.