Whangārei house caught fire after family distracted by toddler, left lunch on stove

The Tikipunga home was destroyed in a fire on Sunday. Photo / Brodie Stone

A Whangārei house caught alight after a family became distracted by a toddler and left lunch cooking on the stove, a fire investigator says.

The Paramount Parade, Tikipunga home was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived about 2pm yesterday.

A person in a moderate condition was taken by ambulance to Whangārei Hospital for further checks.

Fire investigator Craig Bain said the fire was accidental.

“They were cooking up some lunch and got distracted in dealing with their toddler, as it happens with kids.

Crews were alerted to the blaze about 2pm on Sunday which was caused by unattended cooking. Photo / Brodie Stone

“When [the woman] returned, the kitchen was on fire,” Bain said.

The woman was able to get everyone, including two adults and three children, out of the house straight away.

“She did all the right things,” Bain said.

He described the situation as “really sad” for the whānau.

Onerahi and Kamo volunteer brigades bolstered the Whangārei crew’s firefighting efforts.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.