North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Fire burns through roof overnight
A fire has burnt through the roof of a house in Birkenhead.
Fire crews were called to the scene just before 9pm on Thursday, September 15 and five trucks attended.
One was still at the scene at 7am the next morning.
Station officer Russel Wilkinson says there were no injuries and the five occupants of the house all got out safely.
He says there was evidence of smoke alarms in the house but that is still to be confirmed.
The fire started on the second floor of the two-storey house and was ‘‘totally involved’’ by the time the fire service arrived, fewer than three minutes after it was called in.
Wilkinson says the top floor is ‘‘totally gutted’’ but there wasn’t a lot of smoke damage to the rest of the house.
He says a cause is yet to be determined and it is important to have an escape plan in the event of a fire.
‘‘It’s important to have a fire escape plan to get out of your house. These people got out safely,’’ he says.
Crews from Albany, Takapuna, Grey Lynn and two from Birkenhead attended the fire.
The New Zealand Fire Service website, fire.org.nz, has an online tool to make escape plans.
The fire service recommends practising the route at least every six months.