“My husband had left for work and he called me and said ‘don’t panic but there’s a property cordoned off, it looks serious’ ... we found out later that day someone had been stabbed.
“We’ve felt a bit unnerved since then, this house has had previous things happen.”
A fire investigator will attend the scene of the fire later this morning.
A police spokesperson said they were called to the fire at 4.17am.
A Hate Hote St John spokesperson said a person had been seriously injured and was transported to Christchurch Hospital.
Three others have minor injuries.
Police said an investigation into the fire was under way.