Fire fighters tonight saved a huge circus-type tent near Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland from destruction.

A fire at the Prime Minister's west Auckland electorate office was deliberately lit, say police.

A small object was thrown into John Key's west Auckland electorate office early this morning, setting it alight.

Three boys and their grandparents ran from their burning Mangere East home as flames billowed and smoke blackened the neighbourhood yesterday.

Victorians will be warned for the first time that they risk their lives by staying to defend their homes in a bushfire.