The fire that claimed Christchurch-raised actor Eitan Djiji's life was described as "black, black ... it was pure black" by one firefighter whose helmet melted from the heat.

Experts have been warning for more than a week that the fires that have blanketed much of western Russia in thick smoke could stir nuclear debris.

An aspiring NZ actor and singer is fighting for his life in LA County-USC Medical Centre, where his condition was listed late yesterday as grave.

Three men have been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged arson and burglary of a west Auckland discount store gutted in a fire early today.

At least one man is "helping police with inquiries" after a suspicious blaze gutted a West Auckland discount shop overnight.

A woman has lost her home but lucky to be alive after waking to the sound of a smoke alarm this morning.

AMI Insurance has been ordered to pay for damage to a leaky building in the Auckland suburb of Epsom that was deliberately set alight.

Twelve fire crews were called to a blaze at a south Auckland church this afternoon.

Brad Chapman said he would never forgive Tonya Bennett for setting fire to his Pukekohe home knowing his mother was asleep upstairs.

A teenager who admitted murdering a mother-of-three by setting her house alight was today jailed for a minimum of 11 and a half years.

A south Auckland liquor store was gutted by fire when a stolen car was driven into the building early this morning.