The occupants of a house managed to escape unhurt as fire tore through the Mosgiel property, near Dunedin, last night.
Five fire crews attended the incident, in Chain Hills Rd, about 11.45pm.
"The fire was well ablaze when the fire crews arrived," a Fire and Emergency spokesman said.
"There will be significant damage. Everybody was able to get out safely.
"For us, it was just a matter of extinguishing the fire."
An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the blaze.
