Fire destroys North Shore flats

Photo / APN

Residents in a block of four North Shore flats rushed to wake each other up after a fire ripped through their building last night.

The blaze started just after 9.30 on Cadness St, in Northcote.

Carey Harris, who lives in an upstairs unit, said he was woken by the sound of a smoke alarm coming from the unit below.

"We were already asleep and I heard the fire alarm go off and then people running around downstairs. Then I heard banging from the other side and smelled smoke."

Mr Harris grabbed his 12-year-old son, Hekiera, and ran towards the door.

"There were flames everywhere. I looked up and my son's room was up in smoke. He happened to sleep in my room tonight. But if he'd been in his room, I don't know what would have happened."

At least two of the flats were gutted.

Fire investigators were last night looking into the cause of the blaze. A St John spokeswoman said no one was injured.