A young couple watched on helplessly as their Kahuranaki home was engulfed in flames. Photo / Supplied
A young couple watched on helplessly as their Kahuranaki home was engulfed in flames. Photo / Supplied
A young couple looked on helplessly as they lost everything in a blaze that destroyed their home south of Havelock North.
Wilson and Ash Delany waited 20 minutes before a fire engine arrived to battle the giant flames engulfing their rural home on Mackenzie Rd, Kahuranaki, in the early hoursof Tuesday morning.
But by that point, it was too late.
Wilson and Ash say they've been overwhelmed by the generosity of their local community who have donated food, clothes and furniture. Photo / Supplied
The fire destroyed everything except their dogs and car, said the couple, who initially tried to tackle the blaze themselves.
"My first thought was to save the house with what I had available, which was the garden hose," Wilson said.
"It soon kicked in pretty fast that it wasn't going to do much, so I drove our ute out of the carport. Even then it was so hot the rubber around the windows is damaged.
"Then we just watched it go. It was a matter of 20 minutes or so by the time anyone reached us - we knew we had nothing left."
The couple managed to flee the house as the windows blew out. Photo / Supplied
Ash, who managed to rescue their dogs from the rented property, said they didn't even have time to put footwear on before fleeing.
"We left with nothing – not even shoes. People are giving us clothing, food, household items, it's taken us from one extreme to the other," she said.
"We were storing an elderly friend's items in the garage too, so all her things are gone – it was everything she had in her life. We're passing things on to her – we're young, we can start again and have each other."
The couple had been living at the home for a year and have since moved into an Airbnb nearby.
Wilson and Ash say they've been overwhelmed by the generosity of their local community who have donated food, clothes and furniture. Photo / Supplied
The farm workers said they've been overwhelmed with the love and support shown by those close to them and also by complete strangers, with a givealittle page set up on their behalf having already reached $3300 yesterday afternoon.
"My wife and I would like to thank the amazing community in the Tuki Valley for everything they've done. We are well, just grateful that we have each other and the animals. God was looking over us" Wilson said.
"Especially in the farming community, we really want to say thank you," Ash added. "Wilson is running the farm at the moment and didn't even have shoes, and somebody has donated some so thank you."
Red Bridge Coffee, on Waimarama Rd, has also been collecting for the couple.
Owner Melissa Campbell said she and her customers all felt the urge to help how they could.
"Our hearts were broken to hear such a horrible thing happening to such a beautiful young couple, who are supporters of us and our business," she said.
"We haven't gone through all the bags, just passed them on – but I believe clothes, shoes, vouchers, food, toiletries, linen and donations have been given."
Fire and Emergency NZ Hawke's Bay Area Commander Ken Cooper said the cause of the fire could not be determined, with Wilson and Ash also unsure.
Cooper said the fire was an example of just how quickly fire can spread.
"It's a timely reminder to make sure you and your whānau are fire safe at home. Fire is fast and can be deadly within three minutes," he said.
"That's why you need working smoke alarms to give you an early warning of fire and an escape plan so you and your whānau can get out safely and quickly.
"Checking your smoke alarms are working and making an escape plan now could save your life."
Three fire pumping appliances, two tankers and one rural unit attended the scene on Tuesday night, according to a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman.
