A fire contained to the kitchen of a Balmain St home in Halfway Bush, Dunedin, was attended by firefighters from Roslyn and Dunedin City Stations and a St John ambulance. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

A firefighter has praised a Halfway Bush family for doing the right things when their kitchen caught alight yesterday morning.

A station officer at the scene said the family was alerted to the fire at their home in Balmain St by working smoke alarms and shut the doors of the house as they fled - actions he strongly commended.

Fire appliances from Roslyn and Dunedin City stations were called to the home about 8am and contained the blaze to the kitchen, which was extensively damaged, the station officer said.

"They've really cooked their breakfast."

The cause of the fire was unclear yesterday but was not thought to be suspicious and a fire investigator was not needed.