Miro Street home destroyed in fire

Fire gutted a Kainga Ora house in Miro Street in Elgin on Sunday morning, causing what firefighters described as “substantial damage” to the three bedroomed dwelling. Picture by Mark Peters

The residents of a Kainga Ora house in Miro Street in Elgin lost most of their household possessions in a blaze that gutted their home on Sunday morning.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent four appliances to the property, and called the Manutuke volunteers into the city as backup, at around 7.20am.

“The three bedroom state house was pretty much fully involved in fire when the first crew arrived,” a senior firefighter said.

“Once we had established that everyone living there was out of the house safely we attacked the fire from the outside, then got inside when we could.”

The senior firefighter said the blaze appeared to have started in the kitchen area.

“The exact cause is being investigated.

“It’s not being treated as suspicious.”

Fire crews were there for around three hours.

“The fire has caused substantial damage to the entire house,” the senior firefighter said.

“About half of the tile roof has caved in.

“The people living there have lost just about everything they owned.”

Specialist fire investigator Tim Allan said the fire was caused accidentally.

“It appears to have been started by some sort of electrical fault in the kitchen,” he said.

“I believe the couple living there have been taken care of by Kainga Ora and found alternative accommodation.

“This incident is another reminder to have working smoke alarms installed in the home, which operated in this case.

“Also to have an escape plan in case of fire.”