A fire investigator is visiting the scene on Sunday morning following a house fire in Maungatapu on Saturday night.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson says they received multiple calls around 6.36pm on Saturday about a house on fire in Maungatapu.

“It was a two-storey home dwelling with an approximately 15 x 10 metre fire on the first floor,’ says a FENZ spokesperson.

“The house fire was found to be well-involved on arrival.”

Three fire appliances from Greerton and Tauranga stations attended the fire, including an operational support vehicle from Tauranga.

The Maungatapu house fire, seen from Turret Road, near the Hairini Bridge.Photo: Mike Thurgood.

Black smoke was seen billowing from the house, and the fire could be seen from the Hairini bridge and further.

A couple saw the fire from their home in the Avenues.

"We were amazed at how quickly it went up,' says Phil Strang. 

"We noticed it at the early stages. We noticed traces of smoke and were looking out the window. We went to phone 111, but it was clear from sirens that fire services were already on their way.

"It was three or four minutes before it was completely engulfed. We were amazed how fast it happened. It was very quick and shows how important it is to exit a house."

There were no people reported to be in the house at the time of the fire, which the fire service says was extinguished by 7.30pm.

A fire investigator is visiting the scene of the fire today.

At the scene?

Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz

The Maungatapu house fire, seen from Turret Road, near the Hairini Bridge.Photo: Mike Thurgood.

A two-storey house in Maungatapu on fire on Saturday evening. Photo: Phil Strang.