Family left homeless on Christmas Eve

The fire was seen as far away as Howick. Photo / Matt Theunissen

It's a black Christmas for some as an Auckland home has been "gutted" in a fire this afternoon.

Fire Services shift manager Jaron Phillips said emergency services were called to a blaze on Burbridge Rd in Mangere at about 2:50pm today.

"It's quite visible. We got about 50 111 calls about it straight away. It was very visible, seen from as far away as Howick."

"It's a single dwelling but it had two separate houses or living spaces. The upper floor is completely gutted of the two-storey place."

"The upper floor is completely gutted but there will be significant damage throughout the whole place."

He said five crews were still at the scene and were carrying out "salvage" work to minimise the damage to the property.

There were no reports of injuries, he said.

"Lots of people said that people were seen running, getting out of the house. Everyone was out by the time we arrived."

It was too soon to say whether the fire was suspicious, and a fire investigator had arrived at the scene, he said.

He said there was no indication as to how the fire started, and the fire had been brought under control within half an hour.

Fire services were also attending second a smaller fire in Mangere this afternoon on Wedgewood Avenue.

"This is just small, we believe. The house is smoke-logged but the fire is presumed out."