A fire which ripped through three properties in the leafy Auckland suburb of Westmere last night is being treated as suspicious.
The fire started in a house on West End Rd, which was well ablaze when firefighters arrived about 8.20pm yesterday.
Fire Service northern communications spokeswoman Nicole Bernard said it spread to two adjacent properties, setting fire to four buildings across three properties.
Residents of the neighbouring houses were evacuated.
Ms Bernard said 15 fire trucks and 60 firefighters battled the fire.
The house where the fire started, which was under construction, was destroyed.
Nobody was injured in the blaze.
Ms Bernard said the fire was being treated as suspicious.
Police guarded the scene overnight and a fire safety officer would investigate the cause today.
