Four flatmates were home at the time, and one, George Heather (20), answered the door.
The caller said he could see smoke and asked if he should ring the Fire Service.
Another flatmate, Matt Dolman, had been awake much of the night watching an American comedy-drama Orange is the New Black when he was interrupted by the fire.
And then the only orange he could see - after being alerted by the caller - was the flames from two armchairs burning on a porch at the back of the property, and from part of the back porch on fire.
Firefighters, called at 8.05am, did a "great job'', swiftly extinguishing the fire and preventing it from spreading to the house itself, Mr Dolman said.
A Fire Service spokesman said firefighters had used breathing apparatus to help bring the fire under control, and had prevented any structural damage to the house.
Mr Dolman expressed his gratitude to both to the firefighters and the man who had raised the alarm.
A Fire Service investigator had told Mr Dolman that the fire, initially viewed as suspicious, had apparently been caused by a faulty power point, at the rear of the property and that the fire was accidental.
He had initially been "a bit shaken up'' and "didn't know what to think about it''.
But entertainment options were likely to be more limited last night, because the power was off at the property, and he was waiting for electrician to come today, he said.
● Police are investigating an apparently suspicious fire at a domestic garage which backs on to Stuart St, about 500m west of the first fire, which was reported to the Fire Service at 8.08am yesterday.
Some wood was stored in the garage, and a small fire was quickly extinguished.
Two appliances sent to the first fire had quickly been diverted to the second fire, a Fire Service spokesman said.
