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A family were last night sifting through drawers of charred papers and clothes - all that remained of their possessions after fire gutted their Bay of Plenty home.
The Fire Service said the blaze was caused by a 3-year-old playing with a lighter and matches, and issued a stark warning to parents and caregivers.
"Make sure that your matches and lighter are not toys," Tauranga senior station officer Jeff Maunder said.
"This kind of fire is all too common and it's so preventable. It's just sad and it's a waste."
The 3-year-old, another young child and a woman were in the house on State Highway 2 between Mt Maunganui and Papamoa when the fire began at 2pm.
They escaped unharmed before flames engulfed the 1960s wooden building.
"Fires in these type of houses are very, very fast," said Mr Maunder.
"Only one whiff of smoke and they could have been unconscious. It could just as easily have been a fatal house fire."
He said the house did not appear to have smoke alarms, prompting firefighters to issue them to neighbouring homes along the highway.
The woman and others who owned the home were last night at the scene but too distraught to talk.
Witnesses on the busy highway said the house was destroyed in a matter of minutes.
Haydyn Pincock and Donna-Marie Gill were driving past and stopped when they saw smoke coming from inside.
"Our main concern was to make sure everyone was alright," Mr Pincock said.
To their relief, the woman and children emerged just as they arrived.
The pair said the fire took less than two minutes to take hold of the building, astounding them with its speed.
"It was just mind-boggling," Ms Gill said. "I couldn't believe it. Just before your eyes, there was no house".
Tumanako Farrell, who has family living in the area, was having a swim at the beach, 2km away, when he also saw the black smoke.
He raced to the scene, fearing his relatives were in danger.
"I knew [the smoke] was too dark to be a burn-off," he said.
Mr Pincock said it was a relief no one was hurt but his thoughts were with those who had lost their home.
"It must be heartbreaking for them, especially this close to Christmas."
Mr Maunder said the timing did not get much worse.
