A house fire which left the home "uninhabitable" in Invercargill yesterday was started by a child playing with a lighter, a fire investigator says.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were called to the house in Lime St shortly before 7am.
Invercargill Chief Fire Investigator Murray Milne-Maresca confirmed six people were in the house when the blaze started. All got out safely.
He said the fire was started by a 9-year-old "playing with a cigarette lighter".
"The [bed] covers caught on fire and they couldn't stop it from spreading as it was moving too fast."
Mr Milne-Maresca said "fuel loading" with materials in the bedroom meant the fire spread "very, very quickly ... and [was] very hot".
He reminded parents to keep a watchful eye on youngsters, and stressed lighters and other items should be seen as "tools not toys".
During winter, he said it was timely to consider checks on electric blankets, open fires and any items within the home that could be a fire risk.
"Everyone got out safely and the fire alarm was activated . . . [the house] was severely damaged and was uninhabitable."
A Fenz spokesman confirmed three fire engines attended.
