Garage gutted, homes damaged
Three properties are damaged from a house fire that gutted a garage in Palmerston North.
Firefighters were called to a blaze that broke out on Vogel St about 4.30pm on Sunday.
Three fire trucks and an ambulance attended the scene and police were diverting traffic away from the fire at a home between Rata and Haydon streets.
Dozens of people lined the footpaths as firefighters battles the flames.
Milson fire station officer Kerry Williams said the fire was still being put out about 5.15pm and they did not know the cause of the fire yet.
‘‘The garage on the house next door was under threat, [as well as] a sleepout.’’
The neighbouring properties were damaged by the flames that engulfed the garage. No-one was found at the property, he said.
A police spokeswoman said there were reports of one or two people being treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation.
Some people were transported to the Palmerston North Hospital emergency department but it was initially unclear how many.
Neighbour Sheree Fink said people flooded the streets to get a glimpse of the fire.
Fink was coming out of her driveway when she saw flames rising from the property’s garage.
Others saw the smoke from the other side of town.
The fire is being investigated.