Mangamuka house destroyed

Volunteer fire crews from Okaihau and Kaikohe had no chance of saving a Mangamuka house from total destruction by fire on Tuesday.

Okaihau's Chief Fire Officer, Andrew Graham, said the house, which had been occupied until three days before, was well ablaze by the time the crews arrived.

The alarm was raised by the owners, who live further along Omahuta Road, when they saw smoke at 11.25am, the Okaihau and Kaikohe brigades both dispatching appliances, and Kaikohe a water tanker.

Mr Graham said he had personally installed smoke alarms in the house (although it wasn't known if they were in working order), adding that the blaze served as a further reminder of the need for rural folk to prepare for an event such as this.

"It's another good example of how important it is for rural home owners to have an escape plan, to have working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, and to know where the garden hose is in case of an emergency," he said, adding that it had taken some 20 minutes for the first appliance to arrive.

A specialist fire investigator began examining the remains of the house on Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, police are seeking information regarding the arson of an unoccupied house at the end of Derrick Road, Kawakawa, on Monday afternoon.

Anyone who who was in the area at around 2.50pm on Monday, or has any information, is asked to contact Detective Constable Bart Graham at the Kaikohe police station, phone 405-2993, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555-111.