A house in Southland has been badly damaged by fire overnight.
The blaze in Edendale was spotted by a truck driver, who called 111 and went to the house to check no-one was inside.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Andrew Norris said crews from Edendale, Wyndham and Mataura were called to the blaze on Ferry Rd just before 4am.
The side of the house and roof was on fire when the first crew arrived.
No-one was home at the time, he said.
The cause of the blaze appeared to be a fire burning outside had spread to the house, he said.
The fire was not being treated at suspicious.
The last crew left the scene at 7am, he said.
- additional reporting NZME
