A large fire at a house in Bethlehem sent thick, black smoke over the Tauranga suburb this morning.

Readers have reported the smoke rising from a house on Millbrook Drive. Photos and a video also show thick smoke in the area.

Fire and Emergency northern fire communications shift manager Lauren Sika said it received multiple calls at 11.46am.

“When we arrived, we found a two-storey house well involved.

“All people are accounted for.”

Firefighters at the scene of the fire in Bethlehem. Photo / Bijou Johnson

A second alarm was put out, calling for extra crews.

“The fire is now contained, and we have three crews, one each from Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Greerton, completing an overhaul.”

Black smoke can be seen coming from a reported house fire in Bethlehem. Photo / Supplied

Bethlehem resident Theo Lees said the house was burning for about 45 minutes before Fire and Emergency arrived.

At 11.50am he smelled plastic burning.

“I looked outside and a wave of big smoke swept across my yard.”

Lees said he saw the fire brigade arrive about 12.15pm.

He went outside to see what happened and spoke to a man who identified himself as the homeowner.

The homeowner looked “gutted”, Lees said.

A reporter at the said it “looks like firefighters are still in process of putting the fire out” and that there was still smoke rising from inside the home just before 1pm.