Two homes on the same street have been torched hours apart in a rural Wairarapa settlement.
A Fire Service spokeswoman said a home was now burning fiercely on Opaki Kaiparoro Rd in Mauriceville, 22km north of Masterton.
One house on the road was damaged by fire about 10pm and a second, just 100m from the first property, was now ablaze as fire crews headed to the small eastern village.
People were inside both houses when fire broke out but everyone escaped without injury, said the spokeswoman.
Police were also heading to the fire to investigate.
