Fire destroys home

RUINED: A fire destroyed this home in Himatangi Beach in the early hours of Monday morning.

A woman has been left with no possessions after a fire destroyed her rented home.

The tenant, believed to be in her 30s, was woken by a French door exploding just before 1am on Monday.

She managed to escape the home, but the building was fully engulfed in flames by the time fire crews arrived.

Himatangi Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Wayne Dear said a neighbour called 111.

"When the woman was woken the flames were already above her head. She is very lucky to have got out."

The house had no smoke alarms and Mr Dear said the cause of the fire had been put down to a multibox.

"It was just one of the standard multiboxes ... but we don't recommend anybody use them. Unless you have circuit breakers and are willing to spend more money ... but this may help, it's no guarantee."

He said multiboxes were easily overloaded and often only took two appliances safely.

One Himatangi resident who wished to remain anonymous said she was woken by the smoke which had filled her nearby home.

"I flew out of bed, checked my son then heard the fire siren. I went outside but all I could see was smoke ... the wind was fanning it all towards my place."

The resident crossed the road and saw bright orange flames.

"They were huge and the heat was just incredible. The fire crews arrived and I could hear someone screaming 'is there anyone in there'. I just prayed no one was home or hurt."

She said she had lived in Himatangi for two years and described the community as tight knit.

"There are already people asking how they can help ... it's just a really terrible thing to happen to anybody."

Five fire appliances attended the call and spent more than three hours putting out the fire.

The Himatangi Beach Fire Brigade is looking for volunteers. If you are interested please contact them on (06) 329-9570.