Woman’s first home gutted by blaze
A woman has been left with only the clothes on her back after a fire destroyed her recently bought first home.
The South Taranaki woman was staying at a friend’s place on Friday night when her home in Victoria St, Kaponga, caught alight about 11pm.
Still coming to terms with her loss, friend Gary Anderson said she was not in a position to talk.
‘‘She only just bought it - her first home. She was so rapt and for this to happen to her is just devastating,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s totalled. It’s still standing but she’s lost everything’’.
Kaponga chief fire officer Jason Hurley said an investigation into the cause of the fire was carried out on Saturday and it was likely the blaze started in a dehumidifier.
‘‘That’s the probable cause,’’ he said.
Hurley said a neighbour had called fire services after hearing a couple of loud bangs and seeing a glow.
The blaze was well involved by the time he arrived at the scene.
Crews from Okaiawa and Eltham, along with a water tanker, were called in to help put out the fire.
Firefighters were at the scene until 3am Saturday dampening down hot spots. ‘‘It was completely gutted, she’s lost everything. She’s only got the clothes on her back.’’
Hurley said the woman had insurance but that would never be able to replace personal items lost to the blaze.
Anderson said the woman was the first person he’d met after moving to Kaponga three years ago and the two quickly became best friends.
‘‘To see that happen to a bestie is quite devastating,’’ he said.
The woman’s parents had also been in town visiting but thankfully were at another daughter’s home at the time, he said.
The woman had been worried about her horse, dog and cat on the night of the fire but he said they had all got out safely.
‘‘The horse bolted and went running down the main street.’’
Residents helped round up the horse and ushered it safely into a nearby paddock, he said.
Anderson said the community was now rallying behind the woman.
‘‘It’s absolutely fantastic. People in the community we all stick together.’’
Manager of the Kaponga Four Square Tina Turner said the store was acting as a collection point and people had donated clothes, money and supplies for the woman’s animals.