Dozens of people, including children wearing pyjamas and dressing gowns, tried to get a better view of a fire that engulfed a house in Dannemora on Wednesday.
Fire Northern communications shift manager Daniel Nicholson told the Times emergency services responded to a call about the blaze at a two-storey property in Point View Drive at 8.37pm.
He said the house was well-involved in flames upon arrival and firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and monitor the surrounding area.
All occupants of the property were accounted for and 10 fire appliances were on site last Wednesday night, Nicholson said. Fire investigators were also in attendance.
Police had blocked off part of Point View Drive to traffic when the Times was at the scene at about 9.30pm.
Crowds of onlookers attempted to get the best vantage point of the fire, which could be seen as far away as Pakuranga according to posts on social media.
Some tried to get closer to the action by driving through a housing development in Michael Richard Place and Armstrong Farm Drive in Dannemora and then walking up steps to Point View Drive.
Several fire appliances remained at the scene the following day. A large gate at the front of the property was taped off.
Visible down the driveway was a utility vehicle, parked in front of what remains of the razed house.
St John NZ spokeswoman Beverley Tse confirmed St John paramedics responded to the incident.
“One ambulance and two rapid response units responded,” she says.
“St John treated one patient in a minor condition at the scene.”
A spokesman for Counties Manukau Police says police were notified of the incident at 8.40pm and responded to assist Fire and Emergency.
“Police also assisted with cordons located at Point View Drive with Whitford Road and Lansell Drive,” he says.
Firefighters responded to a second house fire in Point View Drive at about 12am last Saturday.
