Family flees after neighbour warns of rooftop fire

A family of four fled their home after a neighbour alerted them to a fire in their roof yesterday.

Rebekah Hape was at home with her husband Kory and their children, aged 7 and 2, when the fire started about 5.20pm.

"We were just cooking dinner together in the kitchen and I heard the neighbour yell and jump the fence.

"I just looked out the window and saw smoke billowing and heard him yell, 'your roof is on fire' and we just got the kids out of there," Mrs Hape said.

Greerton station officer Paul van Kol said the fire destroyed the roof of the Mansells Rd house.

"From the ceiling up it's pretty well damaged. They [fire crew] put the fire out before it got into the house itself," he said.

Mr van Kol said it was not yet clear what had caused the fire.

The family was staying with relatives last night.