Laundromat gutted by fire
The owner of a Kerikeri laundromat gutted by fire is determined to restart her business.
Michelle Poole, who owns Kerikeri Laundry Services, received a call early May 24 to say the Cobham Rd building was well involved in flames.
None of her coin-operated washing machines and dryers or the larger commercial machines were able to be salvaged.
The day after the fire Poole says she was feeling a ‘‘bit shattered.’’
‘‘It was hard to see all our stuff ruined, there was nothing left.
‘‘But we are looking forward to opening up again two doors down.’’
The laundromat currently employs six people with around eight or nine people working there over the busy summer period.
‘‘We’ve had some great times in there and we are like a family unit.
‘‘There were a lot of sad women once they learnt of the fire.’’
Poole says her business services most of the motels in the area and will continue to do so in the meantime with help from a Kaikohe laundromat.
‘‘We have been amazed at how many people have phoned up and shown support.’’
The property was insured but Poole estimates the damage to have totalled more than $150,000.
Fire Service Area Manager Allan Kerrisk says they received the call out at 5am and the first of two appliances arrived at the scene seven minutes later.
In his six years at the Kerikeri brigade Kerrisk says it was the closest fire he had attended.