![\"Ponsonby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4JS8UJ1_Image_29_jfif.jpeg\")
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\nA number of firefighters are at the scene on Tawariki Street.
\nPhoto: RNZ\/Marika Khabazi\n<\/p>\n
A construction worker has described pulling someone from a burning house in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby.<\/p>\n
A number of firefighters are at the scene on Tawariki Street, with crews using an aerial crane to try contain the fire on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Lodder was working at a construction site nearby when he noticed a fire on the other side of the road.<\/p>\n
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\nJeremy Lodder was working at a construction site nearby when he noticed a fire on the other side of the road.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Marika Khabazi\n<\/p>\n
He stopped working and leapt into action.<\/p>\n
“I just thought it was a burn off, but it was a strange place for it in the middle of the city. I realised it was pretty close to the brick walls and once I saw that, I stopped my machine that I was using, told the other boys to stop, talked to the supervisor who was here [and] told him to call the fire brigade,” Lodder said.<\/p>\n
“… knocked on the doors, found one guy in there, got him out, while the house was on fire.”<\/p>\n
Lodder said he’s seen house fires before and knows how fast they can spread.<\/p>\n
“That’s why as soon as I saw it I jumped out [and] stopped my gear.”<\/p>\n
![\"Ponsonby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4JS8X49_Image_6_jfif.jpeg\")
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\nWorkers were at a construction site nearby when they saw the fire.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Marika Khabazi\n<\/p>\n
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) Senior Station Officer Michael Manning told RNZ there were multiple calls just after 10am.<\/p>\n
“We got here within a couple of minutes and the rear of the house was well involved in fire and the neighbouring house was also starting to catch fire,” he said.<\/p>\n
He said the first home has extensive damage, but the neighbour’s home has been spared and has only scorch marks.<\/p>\n
“The crews did an excellent job stopping the fire moving through that property,” he said.<\/p>\n
![\"Ponsonby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4JS8X49_Image_1_jfif.jpeg\")
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Photo: RNZ \/ Marika Khabazi\n<\/p>\n
Manning said the police were called while there were initial concerns for the whereabouts of the person at the home and whether they were hurt or missing.<\/p>\n
“He’s now been located and is speaking with our fire investigators and police,” Manning said.<\/p>\n
![\"Ponsonby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4JS8X49_Image_4_jfif.jpeg\")
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\nFirefighters at the scene of the fire in Ponsonby.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Marika Khabazi\n<\/p>\n
Six fire trucks and more than 20 crew were called in.<\/p>\n
Manning said it had been a busy morning for Auckland fire crews. They responded to the Ponsonby fire fresh after attending a fire on Hobson Street in the CBD.<\/p>\n
“We had just recommissioned from that when this job came in,” he said.<\/p>\n
Crews are using a high-reach ladder truck from Wellington to take the roof off and put out the remaining pockets of fire,” Manning said.<\/p>\n