14 Dec 2023

Recently sold Auckland home destroyed in blaze

6:20 pm on 14 December 2023
Generic fire truck.

Generic fire truck. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Police are investigating a large blaze that has destroyed a home under construction on Auckland's North Shore.

The fire on Kathleen Street in Tōtara Vale was reported to Fire and Emergency (FENZ) about 5am and dozens of fighfighters tackled the blaze at its peak.

A neighbouring house had a window damaged from the heat of the fire.

The fire was extinguished about 6am.

The house destroyed was one in a block of three terraced homes - which appeared to be at the final stages of construction.

The two homes adjacent were in tact, but charred.

Police said they were making enquiries, but currently treating the fire as unexplained.

A scene examination will be carried out.

FENZ said the incident was being treated as suspicious.

A real estate advertisement shows the block of three homes under construction was sold in a mortgagee sale in April this year.