Firefighters at the scene of a suspicious house fire in North New Brighton last night. Photo: Supplied
No one was at home when the fire started just after 8pm on Britannia St, but the house sustained "substantial damage", said Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Lyn Crosson.
Police guarded the scene overnight due to the "suspicious nature" of the blaze, she said.
Two fire crews found the house "well involved" on arrival.
The fire did not spread to other properties, but emergency services closed off the middle of the street until the fire was under control, about an hour later.
A fire investigator will be at the scene this morning to determine the cause.
