Joel Williams popped out from his Rotorua home for an hour to take his daughter to martial arts, but when he got back he found his flat on fire.
The father was last night watching as firefighters sifted through the remains of his flat in Monokia St, off Fairy Springs Rd, thankful he and his two young children, Jacinta, 7, and Tiaki, 6, were not hurt.
"I'm just grateful it happened when it did and not at night while we were sleeping.''
Mr Williams said they had closed the doors in the flat, which stopped the fire from spreading to the bedrooms, but all their possessions in the living area, including furniture, a laptop and electrical items were destroyed.
"But that's okay. I'm just pleased it happened when it did. Stuff can be replaced, people can't.''