Police probe Tweed St house fire

Invercargill police and the Fire Service are investigating a house fire in the city on Friday night.

Firefighters were called to a house in Tweed St about 11.40pm after a neighbour spotted smoke coming from the house.

Detective Scott Mackenzie, of Invercargill CIB, said the house's owners were away at the time of the fire but neighbours had gone to the house and knocked on windows in case they were asleep inside before the Fire Service arrived.

Police had already spoken to most of those people, but were looking to identify anyone else who might have knocked on windows or doors, Mr Mackenzie said.

Invercargill Fire Service senior station officer Alan Goldsworthy said when firefighters arrived the house was heavily smoke-logged and fire could be seen through the kitchen window.

Five firefighters wearing breathing apparatus forced entry through the front door to attack the fire and search the house as it was unknown whether it was occupied.

"While the main area of burning was in the kitchen area the whole house was damaged by smoke," Mr Goldsworthy said.

Three appliances and 12 firefighters attended the callout at its height, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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