Fire crews kept busy around NZ overnight

File photo / NZ Herald

Firefighters were kept busy overnight by a slew of house fires around the country, two of them suspicious.

Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Jaron Phillips said the first call came in at 9.03pm about a fire on Cashel St in Linwood, Christchurch.

A two storey wooden house was burning fiercely in high winds when emergency services arrived.

No-one was injured but the fire was being treated as suspicious and a scene guard was posted overnight.

At 9.30pm firefighters attended another suspicious fire on Springfield Rd in Auckland's Morningside.

Initial reports suggested people may have been trapped inside the single-storey dwelling but no-one was found. The occupant was subsequently located at another address.

A scene guard was in place overnight and specialist fire investigators were at there this morning.

A short time later emergency services were contacted about a house fire on Riverfields Lane, Tamahere, in Waikato. It appeared a fire had spread from the chimney to the roof where it gained momentum, Mr Phillips said. Two appliances from Hamilton extinguished the blaze.

Shortly after 1am firefighters were called to a blaze in the south Auckland suburb of Mangere where a house was well involved in flames.

An occupant of the Kirkella Crescent house suffered burns to his face and hands, as well as smoke inhalation. He was taken to hospital in a moderate condition. A fire safety officer was investigation.