A local man on Wards Line said he woke in the early hours to the sound of banging, and thought someone was out shooting.
"But it got louder and I thought 'no, that's not shooting,'" he told NZME.
He opened his window to see the house north of his was on fire. He then opened the curtains and realised two homes, a barn and several outbuildings were also on fire.
"I thought 'it's Armaggedon' . . . it was terrifying."