A family escaped a burning house in the Hastings suburb of Mayfair in the early hours of this morning.
Three fire crews arrived at the Grove Rd scene at 2am and put out the massive blaze, a fire communications spokesperson said.
The family of four was uninjured, but the house was severely damaged.
An investigation was under way to determine the cause of the fire, the spokesperson said.
Radio NZ reported neighbours who said the fire started in the kitchen. The flames "towered" over the house at the fire's peak, the neighbours said.
