Spread of fire quelled by fast-acting neighbour
Home saved from extensive fire damage
Afamily home in semi-rural haupō was saved from extensive fire damage Monday morning by a quick-thinking neighbour. Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade Station Officer Danny Smith said two fire crews responded to a call just before 10am and found a fire burning on the exterior of the Ryburn Rd hose and in the roof cavity.
“We promptly extinguished the fire and searched for occupants,” Smith said.
“No one was at home.” Smith said while Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) doesn’t promote that members of the public attempt to fight fires due to the hidden dangers, in this case a neighbour was able to significantly reduce the main fire causing serious damage using a garden hose, “which was a good result”.
The neighbour, who wishes to remain anonymous, says he was alerted to the nearby fire by a woman from further up Ryburn Rd.
“I was working at home when she drove in, tooting and yelling there was a fire,” he said.
“I could then see the flames, so I called 111 and then ran to the scene.”
He told the Te Awamutu Courier some items on the front porch were on fire and flames had spread up the wall and through the roof.
“I found a garden hose and was able to put out the fire on the porch.”
He said he pulled off a panel under the eaves and sprayed water into the ceiling until the Fire Brigade arrived and took over.
The two Te Awamutu crews were supported by the tanker from Te Awamutu. A third crew from Pirongia also attended, but the situation was under control, and they weren’t required.
A specialist fire investigator is looking into the cause of the fire.
Smith gave a vote of thanks to the employers of volunteer firefighters for allowing staff to be away from their jobs to safeguard their community.