The building on Quarantine Island in Otago Harbour was close to being engulfed in flames after a child playing with matches caused a hedge fire last night.
Portobello Station deputy chief fire officer Jamie Ramsay said firefighters were called to the blaze at 6.18pm yesterday.
They arrived by boat about 15 minutes later to find a macrocarpa hedge ablaze and quickly put it out.
The hedge was 5m from the resident's house, Had firefighters not arrived as quickly as they did, it was very likely the house would have caught fire.
''When I first saw it ...the flames were as high as the roof of the house.''
The six firefighters from Portobello Station were joined by four from Port Chalmers and a command unit at Portobello.
Island keeper Candy Douglas said the fire was caused by a child playing with matches about 90 minutes before firefighters were called to the scene.
She was still shaken, but pleased the house did not catch fire and appreciative of the efforts of the firefighters.
