Residents forced to flee and a state of emergency declared as fire rage across California.

Insurance companies have faced record payouts for weather-related damage across NZ.

Firefighters battled two industrial blazes overnight.

The fire service is at a huge blaze in Ashburton.

Helen Lee lost her home in a raging bush fire but is positive for the future

Firefighters could not save a home after a blaze broke out before midnight.

It's suspected the fire was caused by a solar panel system.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may recognise scooters left at the school.

A classroom fire at Auckland's Green Bay Primary School is being treated as suspicious.

A neighbour raised the alarm after Stratford home burst into flames.

Helen Lee talks about the bush fire that destroyed her Coromandel home last summer.

Roads are likely to remain closed for most of the day after the suspicious fire.

Supplied by Juliet Moses

Two people have died after being hit by trains in separate accidents this morning.

Supplied: Twitter / @AmandaSnedden and Regan Higgie

Part of Symonds St, in Auckland city, is cordoned off as nine fire crews battle the blaze.

Cockle Bay resident Martin Mackenzie talks about the value of smoke detectors. Video / Peter Meecham

A fire that burnt down a historic homestead in Mangere East is being treated as arson.

Glenn Menzies, Assistant Area Commander comments on the fire on Queen Street, this morning.

Auckland's Queen St is closed in both directions between Mayoral Dr and Karangahape Rd because of a fire. / Supplied by Vinay Kumar & Goran Saveski

Auckland's Queen St is closed in both directions between Mayoral Dr and Karangahape Rd.

A huge blaze is ripping through an apartment building in Manhattan, New York City, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky. / Supplied by Kevin Clamato

NZ's worst fire tragedy was a scandal of failures as 41 people were incinerated.

The alarm was raised just after 9.30pm.

A fire at Whangaparaoa College started in a sawdust disposal bin.

Saturday 18 November 2017 is the 70th anniversary of the Ballantyne's fire in Christchurh (18 Nov 1947). It remains New Zealand’s worst fire tragedy. / Teara - Archives NZ

Firefighters took more than five hours to put out the blaze that threatened homes.

The scrub fire has spread to around 50m by 60m wide.

After lighting the fires, he entered a flat and ate from the pot on the stove.

Two 19-year-old women will appear in court after a blaze at a Hamilton school on Friday.