A woman in her 20s and a baby were "incredibly lucky" to escape unscathed from a fire in a Clinton house early on Saturday, authorities said.
Clinton Chief Fire Officer Bill Harris said fire crews from Clinton, Waiwera South and Clutha Valley were called at 12.40am and spent two hours at the Halsey St house, where fire spread up an outside wall and into the ceiling cavity.
"It was incredibly lucky they were awake - it could have been a different story if they were asleep," he said.
The woman and her child spent last night with family.
A fire safety officer will inspect the scene today.
