Fire and Emergency crews were called to an early morning kitchen fire in Aranui this morning.

The incident happened at a social housing unit on Portsmouth Street just after 5AM on Friday.

Two appliances from Anzac Fire Station attended along with a crew from the Christchurch City Station.

A spokesperson said by the time appliances arrived one of the occupants had managed to put the fire out.

However, the kitchen was badly damaged.

The spokesperson said the key message here was never leaving cooking unattended.

One of the occupants were treated on the scene for minor smoke inhalation.