Teenagers spotted running from house blaze

The fire destroyed a two-bedroom house that was waiting to be relocated. Photo / Greg Bowker

The names of two teenagers will be passed on to police and fire safety investigators after they were seen fleeing from a house blaze in Henderson yesterday.

The fire occurred in the industrial cul-de-sac of Southgate Place on a property used to store houses that have been removed from other sections and are awaiting relocation.

Senior Station Officer Esitone Pauga of the Henderson fire brigade said firefighters would be speaking to the section's owner because of the fire risk posed by the close proximity of the homes and long grass and gorse growing there.

The two-bedroom home, standing on drums, was destroyed by the blaze.

Melted aluminium window frames sat askew in the charred walls as firefighters knocked down parts of the blackened roofing to dampen down hot spots.

Mr Pauga said staff were also concerned that the section was full of vacant homes, which were often a target for vandals.

"It's obviously a fire hazard - derelict buildings with easy access. Even though the gate was locked, obviously somebody got in, and you've got overgrown grass."

The adjacent house, which was also on drums, was scorched and the flames could easily have spread, Mr Pauga said.

Someone who knew the teenagers and had seen them running from the scene had given their names to firefighters.

"At this stage we're treating it as suspicious.

"There were two young boys seen running away from the scene. Fire safety [officers] will come and investigate and we'll pass that on to the police."