Five fire appliances have responded to a blaze at a two-storey Whanganui home. Picture / Google Maps
A Whanganui fire at a two-storey residential property has prompted a large fire fighting response.
Five fire trucks are currently in attendance battling the blaze which appeared to be a re-purposed shop building, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said.
The two occupants of the building managed to escape with no injuries.
Crews were currently working to extinguish the blaze.
It followed a house fire in Taranaki on Friday that saw a woman lose everything but the clothes on her back.
Her home in Victoria St, Kaponga, caught alight about 11pm on Friday.
Kaponga chief fire officer Jason Hurley said a second alarm was issued straight away and crews from Okaiawa and Eltham, along with a water tanker, were called in to help put the blaze out.
Firefighters were at the scene until 3am Saturday dampening down hot spots, he said.
Hurley said a neighbour heard a couple of loud bangs, took a look over and saw a glow and dialled 111.
"It was going quite well when we got there," Hurley said.
"It was completely gutted, she's lost everything. She's only got the clothes on her back."
Armed police stood guard as the patched members were led out in handcuffs.