A Canterbury house had its roof destroyed by a fire today.
The Fire Service said it was called to the rural house at Brathwaite Drive, in Rolleston, at about 2.30pm.
Chief fire officer Nigel Lilley told NZPA the house's roof space was well alight when firefighters arrived.
He said firefighters had to remove the roof to get into the space -- "it was quite a big job".
Four appliances and two tankers responded, and it took 25 firefighters an hour to control the blaze.
Mr Lilley said no one was inside the house.
The fire is not being treated as suspicious. Fire safety officers will investigate the cause tomorrow.
