However, Fire and Emergency Senior Station Officer Mark Leonard said if crews had arrived only minutes later, the situation could have been much worse.
"We could have lost four or five houses."
Fires spread quickly through macrocarpa hedges because of severe winds.
By the time crews arrived at the "well-involved" fire, a large crowd had gathered, Mr Leonard said.
"At that time there were only four of us, so I asked about 10 or 15 of them to lend a hand."
They helped carry the heavy hoses and used shovels to turn over grass.
"Without them it would have been a whole lot more difficult."
It appeared the fire was started by winds blowing wires in the transformer together, he said.
Firefighting activities were made more difficult due to poor water supplies, he said.
Crews from Willowbank, Waitati, Dunedin and Waikouaiti and a Wakari rural tanker were called in to fight the blaze.
They included Dunedin City Senior Firefighter Bevan Moreton, who celebrated 50 years in the role yesterday.
The fire was contained by 7pm.
Resident Todd Williams said his house was "unlivable" after the fire, but likely could be salvaged.
"The back wall has been burnt — it’s burned right through the weatherboards. There’s Pink Batts everywhere and water damage."
However, it could have been much worse if not for the quick actions of firefighters, he said.
"We could have lost a lot more, because the houses are so close to each other.
"It’s been pretty traumatic, but the firefighters have been awesome."
On Saturday night he, his wife and four children slept at a nearby bed and breakfast and in the family’s campervan.
They were working with their insurance company to gain medium-term accommodation.
