An Owaka family out getting coal on Saturday morning returned to find their home on fire.
Owaka Fire Service Chief Fire Officer Mark Cuthbert said when the four-man fire crew arrived at the two-storey house about 11am, the fire in the living room was well involved.
The 1970s concrete block and plasterboard house in Ryley St was on the grounds of the closed Catlins Area Motel.
The fire was brought under control in 20 minutes. Mr Cuthbert said the young family with two children was ''distraught''.
''It was lucky it was during the day, because we are desperately short of volunteers,'' he said.
East Otago area fire risk management officer Michael Harrison had been called to investigate the fire, he said.
