Latest from Fires

School severely damaged in fire

A classroom block at a school in Lower Hutt was severely damaged in a fire last night.

House damaged in fire

A Fire Service spokesman said five fire crews had been at the scene of the large fire Paraparaumu.

Investigators to determine cause of blaze

An investigator will today determine the cause of a blaze that ripped through a Dunedin property last night.

Large blaze caused by leaking LPG

Fire Safety investigators say initial indications are that a large fire in Glendene on Friday night was cause by leaking LPG.

Large scale blaze in Glendene

Firefighters successfully contained a large fire in the Auckland suburb of Glendene last night. It took seventeen fire crew to extinguish the fire at a house on Bancroft Ave after they were called to the blaze about 9pm.

'We're alive and nothing else matters'

Family awoke to a strong smell and the sight of thick black smoke.

Single fire service likely

New Zealand is likely to get a new, national fire service - but regions will get a high degree of control over how they operate.

Two big blazes in Canterbury

A house fire and a big blaze that flared up when a house being transported on two trucks hit power lines has kept firefighters busy.

Unauthorised welding cause of explosion

An explosion "like a sonic boom" sent debris flying 100m through the air and killed one person in South Auckland today.

Dunedin forest fire under control

A large forest fire south of Dunedin, near the small village of Waipori Falls, is believed to be under control.

Couple fought while their car burned

Hamilton firefighters had to intervene between a couple who started arguing after a fire began in their car.

Family suffer smoke inhalation after fire

A faulty dryer caused a fire in a rural Waikato home last night but it's appliance accomplice - the handy washing machine - helped douse the flames.

Fire in Auckland apartment block

Occupants of an Auckland apartment block escaped serious injury overnight, after a fire broke out in the unit.

Father, son save school from fire

A suspicious blaze in a 100-year-old school building follows six previous incidents of vandalism since March this year.

Electric cat mat starts fire, singes cat

An electric cat mat was behind an inferno that damaged a house in Auckland this morning - one of three animal rescues today.

Arson investigation underway after blaze

A fire at a community recycling depot in Alexandra is being investigated as an arson attack, with a detective saying it was clear a fire had been "deliberately lit".