Ngongotahā home destroyed by fire, cause not yet known

Fire and Emergency are continuing to investigate the cause of a large fire which destroyed a house in Ngongotahā last night.

A Fire and Emergency spokesman earlier said firefighters received multiple calls about the blaze, the first being at 4.51pm.
Six fire appliances and a water tanker attended.

Firefighters battle a blaze which has engulfed a house. Photo / Andrew Warner

He said the house on Ngatai Ave was well alight when crews arrived and there were no reports of anyone inside at that time.

A man at the scene said he became aware of the fire when he heard a "boom".

"Then we started to see the smoke and flames."

He estimated the flames were up to 8m high and could be seen around Ngongotahā and Hamurana.

"It's still smouldering as they are hosing it down. It's all fallen in and collapsed."

The house was "well-involved" when firefighters arrived on the scene this evening. Photo / Supplied

Police and ambulance services were notified.

Another witness said the fire had completely engulfed the home within 10 minutes.

Smoke from the blaze can be seen at from across Lake Rotorua. Photo / Supplied

Fire and Emergency New Zealand area manager Hamish Smith told the Rotorua Daily Post that investigations into the cause of the fire were continuing.

Smith said the house was "completely lost" in the huge blaze.