A small dog rescued from a burning building underwent special attention from the Fire Service including an oxygen mask and water feeder.

A chihuahua is fighting for its life after inhaling smoke in a south Auckland house fire, in which a cat died.

Seven fire engines from as many Auckland stations fought the well-ablaze fire in one of six flats in a Nikau Rd, Otahuhu, block on Wednesday evening.

Otahuhu station officer George Lewis said large volumes of smoke were drifting down the street when he arrived. "It was difficult to pinpoint where the fire was until we got to this particular address."

Bevan Read Senior Firefighter Dora Dehar and Bjorn Constable take care of a small dog pulled from a fire in Otahuhu.

Once fire crews established that there were no people in the burning flat, their attention turned to the pets locked inside. "One of the crew...found the little dog down here that Dora is looking after, so it was kind of nice...hopefully the little dog survives."

Fire Service had earlier said there were unconfirmed reports one person had suffered burns in the fire, but it turned out the victim was a chihuahua.

Fire crews gave the dog emergency oxygen and it was handed over to a vet.

BEVAN READ/FAIRFAX NZ Papatoe Senior Firefighter Dora Dehar and Bjorn Constable take care of a small dog pulled from a fire in Otahuhu.

Lewis said the fire crews hoped the dog would survive as another pet, a cat, didn't make it. "It's just one of those things that we come across."

Fire Service investigators would be speaking to the occupants to find out what happened.

Lewis said he didn't think there were smoke alarms in the house as those would have alerted the neighbours. "I'm not sure that that happened."

@FirecommNZ / Twitter Fire crews gave the dog emergency oxygen.

He said people left their animals inside all the time and this was just something that happened from time to time.

He advised people to remember to do their fire safety checks before leaving the house.

The blaze came as other south Auckland fire crews were dealing with a farm house fire near Waiku, which involved several appliances.

BEVAN READ/FAIRFAX NZ In good hands after a harrowing ordeal.

Bevan Read/Fairfax NZ Fire crews attend a blaze in a block of flats in Otahuhu, south Auckland.