Brigade warns of candle peril as family flees fire

A Bay family without power narrowly cheated death after a candle ignited a fire that then engulfed their home.
The blaze, which broke out in the Birmingham St state house on Monday night at 11.30pm, was believed to have been caused by a nine-year-old using a candle in his bedroom.
Firefighters say the candle was left alight in an unstable vessel and fell on to a sofa bed.
According to the family's neighbours the power hadn't been on at the property for at least two weeks and they were using candles for light.
Tauranga Fire Officer Mark Keller said that by the time his officers arrived on the scene the fire was well ablaze and had spread to a front room - the escape point for the man and his two children.
Mr Keller said the initial concern was that the callout report said four people were at the burning house. Officers were then told the children's mother, who was away at work at the time, was on her way to the scene. "The key message here is candles and children just don't mix. I implore people to remember if they are going to use candles as a light source, they should never ever be used in bedrooms and never leave children on their own with candles and matches."
Mr Keller said when there is a fire it was important for the occupants to ensure they close the door of the room, or rooms, on the way out as that will give the fire service an extra 10 minutes to get to the scene.
In this case there was less damage to the laundry room because the door had been shut.
It is clear from the charred remains how close a call it was.
The family is staying elsewhere and could not be contacted.
Next door neighbour Trevor Hickey said it was a "miracle the family all got out".
Mr Hickey said he was woken just after 11.30pm by the man of the house and grabbed a bucket of water and by the time he and his neighbour got within metres of the home the window of the middle bedroom blew out and the men had to dash to safety. By that stage the two dazed children - Dion, 9, and three-year-old Sebastian - were outside.
"I knew then that the family were pretty well buggered. It was a miracle they all got out," said Mr Hickey. "For a time there I was also worried about my place as you could feel the heat, it was that fierce."
Tauranga Housing New Zealand regional manager Tony Marsden said the brick and tile house, which the family had lived in for just over 3 years, won't be habitable for some time because of the damage.
"Luckily the smoke alarm detectors in the house went off or the outcome could have been much different. It just reinforces how vital smoke alarms are, as apparently this is what triggered the first alert for the family and ensured everyone at home got out in time."
Meanwhile Tauranga police are investigating an arson that gutted a new house at 779 State Highway 2, Te Maunga around 11.30pm on Monday. A quantity of fishing gear was taken.