A Ravensbourne resident panicked when she returned from the movies to find her street shrouded in smoke and a firefighter blocking access to her home where her two dogs were inside.
Shann Vaega was one of the residents evacuated from three Rimu St houses as the blaze which raged on Signal Hill came within 300m of the area on Tuesday afternoon.
She and her husband were unaware of the fire until leaving a movie theatre in central Dunedin mid-afternoon.
''We came home and it was all covered in smoke,'' Mrs Vaega said.
''I was panicking because I didn't know where it was coming from and my dogs were alone here.
''There was a firefighter at the edge of Rimu St and I was panicked. I never leave my dogs alone.''
A police officer informed them they would have to evacuate the area while firefighters continued battling the blaze.
''We just grabbed photos and the dogs and some water,'' she said.
Just down the road, Colleen Anderson awoke from a mid-afternoon nap to the smell of smoke.
''I asked my husband if he was burning anything and he said: 'No, but I can smell it, too','' she said. ''It was scary seeing the sun come through the screen of smoke. It was very eerie.''
The animal lover said her cats ''took off for the hills'' as smoke shrouded her home, leaving her anxious at having to evacuate.
''I was terrified,'' she said.
''My husband ... was my rock, but I was freaking out. I have a soft spot for animals. They live better than we do.''
The couples returned home late on Tuesday, thankful for the work of emergency services.
''They did a great job and kept us safe,'' she said.
