Cause of Ruapehu house fire under investigation

Fire and Emergency crews from Ohakune, Raetihi and Waimarino worked to extinguish the fire. Photo / NZME

Ruapehu firefighters were called to extinguish a “fully-involved” single-storey house fire in Rangataua.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews from Ohakune and Raetihi responded at 6.34pm on Thursday.

Central shift manager Allison Munn said the house was “fully involved” when crews arrived.

“That was escalated to what is called a second alarm event,” Munn said.

Two trucks and a water tanker from Ohakune, two trucks from Raetihi and a truck from Waimarino helped extinguish the fire.

Munn said no one was in the house.

At 8.30pm the fire was under control and crews were dampening hotspots.

Munn said the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.