A firefighter was injured while battling the blaze.

About 10 fire crews and 40 firefighters were in attendance shortly after 10pm.

The man is due to appear in the Taupō District Court next week.

Nearby residents told to close windows and doors as smoke fills air.

Incident Controller Dave Key speaks to the media about the fire in Sydenham this morning.

The crash was reported to emergency services at 12.09pm.

Neil Paton and Brad Edwards prepare for firefighting challenge Championship in Nashville. Video / Michaela Gower

One person has died in an avalanche after becoming trapped during a heli-skiing trip in Mid Canterbury. Video / NZ Herald

A fire investigator is being sent to the scene.

A Givealittle page has been set up to support them.

Blaze scorched 700ha, forced evacuations, and prompted a major firefighting effort.

Investigations are underway at a Russell Cres address in Rotorua where two people were critically injured and believed to be linked to a woman's death at a separate address.

Emergency services were called to the crash about 3.04pm.

A man was airlifted to hospital after his vehicle dropped 15m off a road on to its roof in the Coromandel. Video / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

New Zealand's child poverty targets set by the Labour government have not been met and Phillip Mehrtens has been reunited with his family after being held captive for 19.5 months.

Four house occupants were assessed by ambulance staff at the scene.

Four house occupants were assessed by ambulance staff at the scene.

Emergency teams have rushed to a house fire in Māngere.

Police are investigating several suspicious vehicle fires in central Auckland in recent days and are seeking the public's help. Video / Hayden Woodward

Firefighter crews from Thames, Tapu, Pururi and Ngatea attended. No one was injured.

A woman and four children escaped injury when their home went up in flames on Thursday.

Internal Affairs Minister says it is important Kiwis are not paying more than necessary.

The house is linked to the vigilante search for the missing woman's remains.

The fan favourite took out more than 62% of the votes.

Hawke's Bay Today takes a ride on Hawke's Bay Airport's new fire truck "Judy Drench". Video / Mitchell Hageman

About a third of all callouts turned out to be false alarms, MPs were told.

Passersby rushed to the aid of the trapped driver.

Fellow whitebaiter raised the alarm after horror unfolded.

Two similar crimes happened just last week in the same suburb.

Flames and black smoke could be seen coming from inside the roof of the building.