Two Auckland homes on fire overnight, one suspicious

Two Auckland homes went up in flames overnight, with fire services treating one as suspicious.

Firefighters were called to the two-storey house on Shah Place, Glen Eden, around 9.30pm and arrived to find it “fully ablaze”, Fire and Emergency shift manager Josh Pennefather said.

Five fire engines were sent to battle the blaze, with crews dampening hotspots around 1.24am.

Fire and Emergency senior station officer Shane Doughty said the property appeared to be abandoned “for some time”.

“So we are treating the fire as suspicious.”

Crews carried out an “external fire attack” to contain the blaze, Doughty said.

“There was no way we could get into the premises as the property was totally involved in fire.

“Once we arrived, the structure began to collapse, so crews remained outside and extinguished the fire externally.”

The abandoned home at the end of Shah Place was well involved when fire crews arrived, with neighbours watching on as crews battled the blaze. Photos / Supplied

Neighbours watched on as firefighters battled the blaze, a Herald photographer at the scene said.

Asked whether it was common for two-storey homes to collapse, Doughty said, “It does happen”.

“I would say because this place has been abandoned and nobody has noticed – it’s been on fire for quite some time. We haven’t had residents call us until they heard noises and realised the place was on fire.”

About 2am crews were called to a 15m by 10m Kāinga Ora duplex on Tasman Ave, Mt Albert, which was “well involved” when they arrived.

There was initially concern for the occupants, Pennefather said, but crews found no one inside.

It is understood it was empty at the time, he said.

The blaze was contained by 2.27am, with the majority out by 4am.

A fire investigator is at the scene to determine the cause this morning.

Multiple fire crews battled a blaze at a Kāinga Ora flat on Tasman Ave in Mt Albert after a fire broke out early this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward.

Police have been contacted by the Herald for comment on both incidents.