The scene of the fire on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green
Fire and Emergency say investigators are working to determine the cause of a house fire in a Wellington suburb on Tuesday.
Fire crews were called to the blaze that ripped through a home on Plunket Street, in Kelburn just after 2.30pm.
A spokesperson said firefighters had to work to prevent the spread of the fire to the closely set neighbouring properties on a steep section in the hilly suburb.
Photo: RNZ / Kate Green
They said there were no injuries in the fire and crews remained at the property until around 5am today to monitor for flare ups.
At the height of the fire flames could be seen coming through the roofing iron of the home. The force of water from firefighters' hoses lifted sections of the roof, exposing blacked beams in the attic spaces above the structure.
The height of the fire on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
One family was evacuated from their home.
A local resident told RNZ it was her impression that the house had been empty for a few months.
People were advised to avoid the area to allow crews to put out the fire, while parents guided school children homeward over a maze of hoses crisscrossing the street above the property.