Three treated for smoke inhalation after fire at Pukehangi

Two stations responded to the early morning fire in Emerald Street. Photo / File

Three people needed medical attention after an early-morning house fire in Rotorua.

Fire crews were called to a home on Emerald St in Pukehangi at 4.30am this morning after a fire broke out in the kitchen.

A Fire and Emergency northern communications spokesman said an ambulance was called and three people were treated for smoke inhalation. One was taken to Rotorua Hospital.

The fire had spread into the ceiling - and two brigades were called to put out the blaze.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she was woken by the noise.

"All the lights were going so I came out to have a look.

"I could smell the burnt smell."

Fire crews left the property about 6.30am.

Housing NZ area manager Teresa Pou said its thoughts were with the family.

"The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the New Zealand Fire Service so we cannot speculate or comment on the possible cause.

"The health and safety of our tenants is our main priority. The smoke alarms in the property all worked and alerted the family to the fire."

She said staff quickly provided support to the tenants and contacted them to discuss what support they needed.

"They will be temporarily put up in a motel at our expense while we work on getting them a new home.

"Helping our tenants and their families stay safe is a big part of what we do as the country's largest landlord."

Over the past few years Housing New Zealand had rolled out several programmes to protect tenants outside and inside their homes, she said.

"This includes our smoke alarm upgrade which includes the latest photo-electric technologies that are employed to provide early warnings in case of fires inside houses."