One person critical after house fire in Orewa

A Fire Service spokesman said the fire has been extinguished but one person was in a critical condition.

A person is being airlifted to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition after a house fire in Orewa tonight.

The fire started at a Courthouse Lane property just after 8.30pm.

A Fire Service spokesman said the fire had been extinguished but one person was in a critical condition.

The person was given CPR at the scene and the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter had landed nearby ready to transport them.

Two Fire Safety investigators were at the scene and an examination would begin as soon as possible to establish the cause of the fire.

Hayden Chapman lives nearby and told the Herald he spotted thick black smoke billowing through the street. He ran outside and as he got near the blaze emergency services arrived.

His immediate neighbour had run out earlier and was outside the burning house.
"He was one of the first people at the scene. He relayed to me that when he got there there was a lot of thick black smoke inside the house and pouring out," Mr Chapman said.

"(The neighbour and others) were yelling out to see if anyone was inside... they heard a lady in the house calling back to them."

Minutes after firefighters arrived at the house the woman was carried out.

"She clearly needed to be rushed to hospital. The helicopter came and got her."

Mr Chapman said the house was "pretty badly damaged".

It is understood a couple own and live in the house. It is not yet clear if anyone else was inside or injured besides the woman.