A Napier house was gutted by fire on Saturday night after a candle was left unattended.
The fire occurred at about 11.10pm at an address on Kennedy Rd, Onekawa, after the candle caused bedding to catch alight, the fire service said.
A neighbour woke to a sound of breaking glass. "I looked out my window and saw flames and thought, 'oh my God, fire'," she said.
She ushered her family and cat outside, where they met the occupants of the blazing house; a mother, her three children and a visitor.
Napier senior station officer Jamie Nichol said the fire service received multiple calls and the fire was "going well" before it was noticed.