A faulty hot‑water cylinder ignited a fast‑moving blaze that destroyed a two‑storey home in Mount Maunganui.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said crews were called to the Golf Rd property shortly after 7am on February 16.

Firefighters from Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Greerton stations responded.

Fire and Emergency said the fire spread with remarkable speed.

“Within four minutes it went from being discovered to fully involved,” it told NZME.

“When crews arrived, the two‑storey house was already well ablaze. Firefighters managed to contain the flames to the house and fully extinguished the fire by 11am.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand was called to a blaze at a property on Golf Rd in Mount Maunganui around 7am. Photo / Dion Norton

The home was extensively damaged.

The occupants, who were awake at the time, smelled smoke and fled the property.

The house had working smoke alarms in place.

Fire and Emergency later confirmed the cause was a faulty hot‑water cylinder.

Fire and Emergency issues safety reminder

Fire and Emergency is urging people to call 111 immediately if they detect a fire and to “get low, get out and stay out”.

“Fire moves extremely fast – it can become deadly within three minutes,” the agency said. “Working smoke alarms are essential, and every household needs an escape plan to get out safely.”

Households can create personalised escape plans at www.escapemyhouse.co.nz.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.