A fire which extensively damaged two housing units in Alexandra last evening started in a garage.
Firefighters are pictured fighting the fire in the roof space of the Killarney St property.
Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Station Officer Russell Anderson said the fire started after a car was left idling in a garage.
A bang drew the resident's attention to the fire but attempts to move the car from the garage failed.
The fire then spread to the roof.
''The building paper is what has spread it and the trusses have caught fire, which have then collapsed under the weight of the [roofing] tiles.''
Vivian Wallis, who lived in one of the five units in the complex, said the elderly couple who lived in the unit where the fire started ''got out OK''.
Mr Anderson said fire crews were amazed at how quickly the fire spread.
About 45 firefighters from Alexandra, Clyde and Omakau fought the blaze while a crowd watched from the streets.
