Passers-by rescue woman from fire

Passers-by who dragged a woman from her burning home most likely saved her life, a fire safety officer says.

Dargaville and Ruawai brigades were called to the house fire on State Highway 12, Tokatoka, southeast of Dargaville, about 8.30am on Saturday morning.

Northland fire safety officer Craig Bain said a woman in the house had been helped to safety by people passing by.

She had suffered some smoke inhalation, first degree burns and blistering, but was lucky to escape with her life.

"If they hadn't got her when they did, we could have been looking at a fire fatality. It was a near miss," he said.

The single-storey dwelling had been well ablaze by the time firefighters arrived and the building was completely destroyed.

Mr Bain said it appeared the fire was caused by a naked flame inside the home.

"There was no power to the house," Mr Bain said.

"They were using open flame for heating, lights and cooking."

The fire service and police were keen to talk to the rescuers to clarify what had happened.

Dargaville volunteer fire brigade station officer Michael Ross said by the time firefighters arrived, the woman was sitting at the gate covered in a blanket "so somebody had done a good job".

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)