A Flaxmere house ravaged by fire on Friday is so badly damaged that it is now unsafe to live in.
Police and fire investigators were called to a Margate Ave house up in flames about 2.45am on Friday.
Hawke's Bay fire area commander Ken Cooper said the house was a single-storey house which was occupied, but not at the time of the fire.
![Damage to the house on Friday morning. Photo / Warren Buckland](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/IR26RYRKSVGZYKVNIZKSBMO6FM.jpg?auth=fc563c625ec6085d465377c75460b348b07be7563230582b64f3d4eff8acecf1&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
"A member of the public called in the fire.