Man’s home gutted by fire

The single-story house in Te Aroha was gutted by a fire on Monday afternoon. Photo: Te Aroha Fire Station

A man came home from work to find his house gutted by a fire on Monday afternoon.

A cleaner at a neighbour's house in Te Aroha had spotted the smoke spilling out of the windows and called Emergency Services shortly after 2pm.

By the time the Te Aroha Fire Brigade arrived at the single-storey dwelling on Follis St, the whole house was ablaze, says Te Aroha Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Roger Clark.

The fire appears to have started in the lounge, Clark said, with the cause is still being investigated. It isn't being treated as suspicious, though.

The house owner lived alone, says Roger.

Two fire crews - from Te Aroha and Morrinsville - managed to douse the flames within the hour. No other properties were damaged.

"I'd say probably 60 per cent of the house is gone," Clark said. "But 100 per cent has smoke and water damage."

Because the roof had burnt off, it was unclear whether there had been working smoke alarms in the house.

"Now is a good time to check your smoke alarms."

-Stuff/Ruby Nyika

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