about 1 hour ago

House badly damaged by fire in Wellington's Karori

about 1 hour ago
A home in Karori has been heavily damaged by fire on 11 December 2025. Six fire trucks and a Haz Mat unit were on the seen at Hildreth Street.

The Hildreth Street house has been severely damaged. Photo: Bill Hickman / RNZ

A home in the Wellington suburb of Karori has been heavily damaged by fire on Thursday evening.

A woman is being treated for smoke inhalation but a firefighter at the scene on Hildreth Street said all other occupants had been accounted for.

A home in Karori has been heavily damaged by fire on 11 December 2025. Six fire trucks and a Haz Mat unit were on the seen at Hildreth Street.

Eight fire trucks responded to the fire. Photo: Bill Hickman / RNZ

Central Fire Communications shift manager Chris Dalton said the fire was well involved when firefighters arrived and work to extinguish it was well underway.

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) responded to the fire quickly and there was a truck already in Karori at the time, he said.

Eight vehicles in total responded to the fire, he said.

RNZ understands three people were in the building when it caught fire and were alerted by locals. A neighbour said the fire grew to a huge blaze in under 10 minutes and she rushed outside fearing the flames would spread to her home.

A member of the family who lived at the address said they were trying to get in touch with other family members to find a place to spend the night but their cellphones were still in the smouldering structure. However locals in area were also checking on the family to ensure they had a place to stay.

The firefighters were beginning to leave the scene at about 6.50pm but Hildreth Street remained closed to traffic.

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