It took just 32 seconds for the flames to take hold of the couch, flames crawled up the curtains, the house was ablaze minutes later.

It took just 32 seconds for the flames to take hold of the couch, flames crawled up the curtains, the house was ablaze minutes later.

Palmerston North's Ngata St played host to New Zealand Fire Service, who performed a controlled burn of a property set to be demolished on Wednesday night.

The burn acted as an exercise for staff, as well as a public advisory, broadcasted live on Newshub's Story.

Warwick Smith A Ngata St property was burned down as part of a training exercise for New Zealand Fire Service

Manawatu area commander Mitchell Brown was incident controller for the exercise, "Story Command".

He said while the majority of training exercises like it were in rural areas, it was a good opportunity for fire staff.

"It's really dependant on how often we have the opportunity provided to us.

Warwick Smith It took just 32 seconds for the fire to take hold, minutes to consume the house.

"Having a fire in town and a structure is a little bit rare ... but it's valuable training for our operative staff and Palmerston North stations."

Brown said the house was set to be demolished and was offered to the fire service for the exercise.

Newshub's Heather du Plessis-Allan lit the fire, clad in fire gear, in the living room of the house just after 7pm.

"They're here really to demonstrate to the public, the speed of fire. How quickly it can start and the result," Brown said.

"You've got to have an escape plan and smoke alarms in the house are key."

He said as soon as a fire took hold, "getting down, getting low, getting out" was crucial.