The occupants of a home which has been "totally devastated" by fire managed to get out safely thanks to smoke alarms.
Crews from Dargaville, Te Kopuru, and Paparoa volunteer fire brigades were called to a house fire on Maropiu Settlement Rd, Mamaranui - near Dargaville - about 11.20pm on Saturday.
When they arrived the three-bedroom house was "fully involved" in flames but the two adults and two children, who were in bed at the time, managed to get out safely thanks to smoke alarms.
"The house is totally devastated," said Whangarei and Kaipara fire investigator Craig Bain.
"I think the good thing is the value of smoke alarms. They woke them up, got them out, the kids were sent across a couple of paddocks to the neighbours' place to raise the alarm."