Man rescues children from house fire

A man who rescued two of his children from a house fire in Palmerston North last night was lucky to escape with only burns to his hand, the Fire Service says.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the two-storey Housing New Zealand home on Buxton Place about 8.20pm, Palmerston North senior station officer Rob Freeman said.

They found the house well ablaze and all three occupants safe outside.

Mr Freeman said the man had rescued one of his children from the blaze before returning to the house to rescue another child from upstairs.

The fire prevented them from coming back down the stairs, so they left down an external fire escape.

The man suffered burns to his hand and was treated by ambulance staff.

Mr Freeman said the occupants were "lucky to escape" the blaze.

Crews from two fire engines worked to bring the fire under control, but the house was gutted.

Fire Safety officers would today speak with the occupants and try to determine how the blaze started.

The house was fitted with a smoke alarm and the fire was not considered suspicious.

- NZPA