Manurewa house fire treated as suspicious

Fire crews are treating the blaze as suspicious. Photo / Catherine Gaffaney

A vacant Manurewa house was badly damaged in a suspicious fire this morning.

Fire crews have now put out the blaze in Shifnal Drive. The house is still standing but its front door and windows are burned out.

Firefighters initially thought people had been in the house but Otara senior station officer Tony Searle said it was a Housing NZ property and had been vacant for about a year.

The house was well ablaze when fire crews arrived. Photo / Catherine Gaffaney

It took firemen about 15 minutes to put the fire out.

Searle said the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Three fire engines and four police cars are still at the scene. Police officers are interviewing neighbours.