A suspicious fire in an Ashburton garage where a family of three were sleeping was reported by a distressed child in the dead of night.
Firefighters were called to a Porter Street, Netherby house at 2.49am.
The caller, described as a child or young person by police and fire services, initially reported injuries, but nobody was injured in the fire.
Police were informed of the fire at 3.42am, but no arrests had been made.
Ashburton fire brigade chief Alan Burgess believed three people were sleeping in the garage.
Fire service shift manager Riwai Grace said it was not yet known what started the blaze.
- Michael Botur of NZME. News Service
