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.

Phillips said fire crews were alerted to the fire around 5.40pm.

Fire investigator is furious, says it's time for a public debate over fireworks.

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.

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.

There is no indication anybody is in the burning building.

Molly the dog is doing well, but her owner remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Two classrooms damaged as 40 firefighters spent five hours putting the flames out.

The fire spread because the houses were so close together.

Fire and Emergency responding to "well involved" fire at Sacred Heart Girls' College.

The frightening moment a Hawaiian Airlines A330 engine bursts into flames moments after it landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Twitter / @jasonavbc

Birmingham man has died after commerical fireworks were put through his letterbox.

Tragic discovery for firefighters after man found dead in a workshop blaze.

Fire crews rushed to the house on Henwood Rd in Mangere shortly after 5pm.

An apartment kitchen has been damaged in the blaze.

Footage was released of a British cop in the US, along with other officers, saving a woman from a burning car. / Grand Prairie Police

A food caravan's cooker exploded at the Leeston rugby club, burning a man inside.

South Island man has serious eye injury after firework was shot directly in his face.

He suffered serious injuries and has been taken to Middlemore Hospital.

New Zealand Fire Service (NZFS) and National Rural Fire Authority commission an independent operational review of the Port Hills fires to learn from their response to the event.

The most likely cause was that the wildfire was deliberately lit, say fire investigators.