It's not every day you see a portaloo on fire in the street, but one Bay of Plenty resident was in the right place at the right time to catch the action this afternoon when a portaloo burnt to the ground in Papamoa Beach.

Papamoa and Mount Maunganui Fire Brigades were called to Monticello Key around 2.10pm after the fire service received calls of the loo on fire.

The portaloo was completely involved when firefighters arrived on the scene. Photos: Isabel Halligan.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Jarron Phillips says the fire was out pretty quickly.

'The portaloo was in a vacant lot when it caught fire,” says Jarron. '

'There was also a small fire on a bit of grass near the loo. The portaloo was completely involved when firefighters arrived at the scene.” Jarron says it's not known what caused the fire at this stage.

All that is left of the portaloo, believed to be unoccupied at the time, was some charring on the ground.