Family loses all in Christmas fire

RODENTS are being blamed for a fire that ripped through a family’s home on Christmas Day leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Ian Merson said he felt numb after the fire tore through the semi-rural home at Puketapu, north of Hastings, as the family sat down to Christmas dinner at a relative’s house.

He and his wife built the large family home 23 years ago where they raised their two children, who were home to celebrate a yuletide season now coloured by calamity.

‘‘There’s absolutely nothing – we’ve got no clothes on our back and nowhere to live,’’ Merson said.

Nothing was salvageable as smoke damage ruined everything from the Christmas tree to Lego destined for future grandchildren.

Merson said the fire was thought to have started in a bathroom fan after rodents gnawed through wiring. ‘‘The bathroom’s just melted. Everything’s just smoke-damaged or unsalvageable, there’s nothing left.

‘‘My kids’ family home is gone and they knew every square inch of this place.’’

He said the catastrophe was so painful he would not let his wife inside the house because ‘‘she wouldn’t be able to handle it’’ and said he had struggled to drive through the farm gate.

Merson, who is insured, is a roofing contractor and also runs

Ian Merson an apple orchard from the farm.

He had to dump stock yesterday at reduced prices because he was unable to water it.

Firefighters from Taradale, Napier and Hastings along with the rural fire service were called to the property in Springfield Rd.

Smoke alarms connected to the home’s security system alerted neighbours to the fire.

When firefighters arrived the building was engulfed and they ripped open the roof to attack the flames.

Neighbour Kirsty Peddle called 111 as she watched smoke billow from the property and said she felt sorry for the family.

‘‘The poor buggers – it’s bad enough having a house fire on any day, let alone Christmas Day.’’

Veteran fire investigator Murray Kidd examined the wreckage yesterday and said it appeared likely ‘‘something in the bathroom had ignited causing the fire’’.

The fire had been ruled accidental but other options were being looked into.