A fire tore through a garage in Sandringham St, Oamaru, yesterday after neighbours spotted thick, black smoke billowing out of the building and alerted emergency services.
Two appliances and about 10 fire officers attended about 9.45am and had the fire out by about 10am.
Oamaru Chief Fire Officer Steve Couper was unsure what had started the fire, but said fire safety officers would attend the scene.
Owner Shayne Curle said nobody was home at the time, and that the fire might have started along an interior wall where freezers and a dryer were situated.
He was grateful the damage had been confined to the garage and had not spread to the house, only metres away.
Mr Curle said children's toys, christmas lights and decorations, clothes, furniture, tools and a self-playing piano were among belongings stored inside.
An area of grass outside had also been scorched, and the lids of exploded aerosol cans could be seen dotting the backyard.
