Emergency services were alerted to the fire by several 111 calls, but no one in the nearby properties spoken to by Hawke's Bay Today said they had called police.
Jean Wilson, who lives several houses down from the charred house, said she awoke to firefighters tapping into the water supply outside her property.
"I saw the flames coming out on to the street. It was a good one," she said.
Another neighbour closer to the fire said police had knocked on their door, advising them of the blaze and that they might have to evacuate, but did not return.
Ms Wilson said the fire had been "very quiet" apart from people busting about on the street.
"There were no sirens on the street but people were shouting and the flames were well out on to the street."
Fire and Emergency central communications shift manager Jan Wills said firefighters had carried out an offensive attack from outside the 30m-by-20m house and protected neighbouring properties.
Yesterday morning tape surrounded the charred remains of the building. Its windows were smashed and its gutters were melted and blackened.
The overnight fire came days after two separate blazes in Hawke's Bay claimed the life of a young boy and left a woman in critical condition.
On Monday afternoon two young boys were rushed to Hawke's Bay Hospital after being involved in a suspicious fire in a derelict building on Heretaunga St West.
In the early hours of Tuesday Ariki River Baden Mau, 10, died from injuries he received in the fire. A 9-year-old also taken to hospital was in a serious condition but yesterday was stable.
A 30-year-old woman was also left with life-threatening injuries after a fire in Mahora last Sunday. She remains in a critical condition.
A suspicious blaze in a garage in Onekawa was also being investigated after emergency services were called to the residential address on Friday evening.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze but the car and garage were destroyed and there was some fire damage to the house.
The occupants were at home but had evacuated by the time emergency services arrived.
Napier senior station officer Mark McGill said the recent spate of fires highlighted the need to have working smoke alarms and an evacuation plan in case of a fire emergency.
"Smoke alarms are an early warning that there is a fire and give people the opportunity to get out of the house as quick as possible."
He said he didn't have a clue what had caused the recent spate of fires, describing the fatal blaze in Hastings as a "terrible situation".
"I've been doing it for years and I haven't really got any rhyme or reason for why you get spates of fires. During the summer time you know you're going to get a lot more fires but when it comes to house fires I can't really tell you."
He said it was important that people facing fire emergencies waited for fire crews to arrive and didn't try put out the flames themselves.
"We never advise people to put the fire out because inherently they get smoke inhalation or burns. What we suggest is to get out, ring from outside and we'll deal with it."
