Christchurch fire crews were kept busy last night with two serious blazes across the city.
Southern fire communications shift manager Brent Dunn said a house fire in Richmond's Harvey Crescent at 11.40pm extensively damaged a two-storey home.
No one was in the house at the time, Mr Dunn said.
"Investigators are responding now to investigate the cause."
The fire was being treated as suspicious until deemed otherwise, he said.
At 2.20am today another fire was reported at the Quarry Bar & Bistro in Halswell.
"That was again well ablaze when we arrived, we had 10 appliances - or fourth alarm level - respond to that. We still have four there now.
"There was a report that there was someone in the bar at the time and a search was carried out [but] nothing was found."
Fire investigators would be looking to establish the cause of the fire this morning, however it was not deemed to be suspicious, Mr Dunn said.
The bar was severely damaged and the Fire Service was still on site this morning dampening down hot spots, he said.
You 'hugged me silently for what seemed like the longest of time.'