20 Jan 2014

Children thought to have started fire

3:05 pm on 20 January 2014

Auckland police say four children and a woman are lucky to have escaped their home before it was destroyed by fire.

Investigators think the blaze in Otahuhu was started by the children playing with matches.

The children and the woman, who's thought to be their mother, escaped injury.

Police say the outcome could have been a lot worse and the fire highlights that matches must be kept away from children.