With the alarms sounding and smoke billowing from the Maraekakaho Rd house, between Raureka and Camberley, and multiple emergency calls from residents and passers-by, two crews of firefighters were also quickly on the scene, from their station less than a kilometre away and also in Maraekakaho Rd.
Peachey said the fire was quickly “knocked back”, with a crew entering the fire-fight up the staircase to tackle the blaze from within.
He said the upstairs portion – a possibly 1970s addition to house believed to have been built before World War II - was gutted, but there was no fire damage downstairs.
“Fortunately the smoke alarms activated, and the multiple calls enabled a quick response, and did make all the difference,” he said.
On Wednesday, occupant Vicky Vaavai said nine people lived in the rented house, including four young children.