Fireworks fire guts homes in Mt Albert

Fire gutted a home and wrecked two cars in the Auckland street John Key once described as a dead-end place. Charles Chan, who lives nearby, said he heard explosions and saw clouds of smoke pouring out of the burning building. "It was a very big fire. There were two cars, one under the porch and one a few feet away. Both were engulfed in flames," he said. "The fire was very intense. Black smoke covered the whole neighbourhood."