Canterbury family inundated with help after house fire

Photo / APN

A young Canterbury family have been inundated with help after their home was destroyed in a fire which claimed all their wedding gifts and birthday presents for their 1-year-old daughter.

Recently-married Simon, 26, and Samantha Norton, 27, were jolted out of their sleep at 6.30am yesterday when a car crashed into a power pole outside their home in Winchester, between Temuka and Geraldine. It started a fire,which quickly spread to their home.

The couple managed to grab their two young children - Lexie, 1, and Jack, 2 - and escape without injury as the property was quickly engulfed in flames.

"We were just lying in bed and heard the crash outside and I got up ... and then there was a big bang inside and I ran through to see what it was and the hot water cylinder cupboard was on fire,'' Mr Norton said.

"I told Sam to get the kids and get out, and I did the same. We got out, but the place went up, the lounge was gone in about a minute or two, and the whole house was gone in probably five.''

It had been a bit of a shock and the reality of the situation "hasn't really sunk in yet''.

The local community have rallied around the pair, who were married just three weeks ago, and were due to celebrate little Lexie's first birthday yesterday.

They lost all the birthday presents and their wedding gifts in the fire. However, Mr Norton was able to rescue their computer with their wedding photographs saved on it.

The Pay It Forward group in Temuka had brought "a whole trailer load of stuff'', including clothes and toys, and neighbours had also brought items to help the family, he said.

"I would just like to thank everyone for either offering to give us stuff or actually giving us stuff. There's heaps, and it means a lot,'' Mr Norton said.

They had even received birthday presents for Lexie to replace those lost in the fire.

"We were supposed to have a big party there [at the house yesterday],'' he said.

"A heap of people went out and bought her presents, and even wrapped them up. There's a cake coming tomorrow.''

The family are staying with Mr Norton's parents in Geraldine until they can sort out their home and a new place to stay with their insurance company.