Family's home burnt down days after moving in

A Kaikohe woman and her two teenage sons fled a fire that destroyed the three-bedroom home they had moved into only three days earlier.

Northland fire safety officer Craig Bain said the three had a lucky escape after the fire woke them around 11pm on Monday.

Mr Bain said the family was "distraught".

"They had just taken ownership of the place on Friday, so they were still in the process of unpacking. They hadn't even got the smoke alarms up.

"It's pretty bad. They've lost basically all their possessions. They're pretty distraught over it."

The fire had virtually destroyed the 100-year-old building.

Mr Bain said the fire was not being treated as suspicious. Although the cause had not yet been established, he said he could not yet rule out an electrical fault or candle.

"It's reminding people to check their smoke alarms and check their electric blankets."

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)