Firefighters battle blazing house

Firefighters closed a road in west Auckland early today as five fire crews fought a blaze in a house in suburban Laingholm.

The house was well alight by the time firefighters arrived just after 4am.

Part of Laingholm Drive between Warner Park Avenue and Dorothy Road was closed for several hours until just after daybreak.

Chief Fire Office of the Laingholm brigade, Graeme Booth, said it was initially feared the house may have been an illegal P lab laboratory and the hazardous materials unit was called.

However, he said no evidence was found and firefighters continued to fight the fire with water and foam.

The house was "stuffed to put it quite bluntly," Mr Booth said.

"It was a reasonably sized house, it was reasonably new and looks like it was a very nice house."

There was no sign of any occupants and firefighters spent several hours putting the fire out and dampening down.

- NZPA