“We were scared the fire would spread to our house,” Lynn told NZME this morning.
One of their windows looks straight at the fence adjoining the strip where the vehicles, which did not belong to them, were parked.
“When we looked outside, all we could see was flames. The glass was so hot we thought it might explode.”
Their house wasn’t damaged, but Lynn said the downpipes had melted and the fence was blackened.
Three vehicles damaged by fire in Mount Maunganui overnight. Photo / Supplied
They weren’t alerted by solely noise or heat. Lynn said the smell of burning rubber also awoke her.
She and Kurt evacuated their home soon after calling the fire brigade at 1.07am. Emergency services had already been contacted.
A Fire and Emergency spokesman said it took about 45 minutes for crews to put the fires out. Three crews attended.
The spokesman said crews also contained fuel that was running from the vehicles.
A fire investigator would be going to the scene this morning.
A police spokeswoman said they were notified about 1.20am of three vehicles on fire on the corner.
Three vehicles damaged by fire in Mount Maunganui overnight. Photo / Supplied
“Police attended and found the owners of the vehicles and some neighbours watching the fire before the fire was extinguished by Fire and Emergency.
“No injuries were reported and a scene guard is in place while police make inquiries.”
Police have clarified the event was originally thought to be a disorder, but that did not appear to be the case.