Occupants escape house fire in Strathmore Park, Wellington

Thursday, 28 June 2018

A soot-blackened firefighter catches his breath after the fire.

Smoke alarms saved two people in a Wellington house after a fire started in a bedroom.

Fire service assistant area commander Gareth Hughes said two people were in the Sidlaw St, Strathmore Park, Housing New Zealand house when it became well involved early on Thursday morning.

The scene of a house fire in Sidlaw St, Strathmore park, believed to have started in a bedroom - possibly from an electric blanket.

About 7 fire trucks and 40 fire fighters attended the blaze, which was suspected to have been started by an electric blanket, Hughes said.

There were two people in the house, and both escaped unharmed after the smoke alarms went off.

Firefighters at the scene of a house fire in Sidlaw St, Strathmore.

The semi-detached house was gutted, while the one next door was saved from the flames by a fire wall.

Neighbour Grace Taylor said there was lots of flames and smoke.

A house fire in was reported in Sidlaw St, Strathmore Park, early on Thursday morning.

'We heard big bangs and things blowing up crashing down on the roof.'

Sidlaw St has been closed to buses.