'They're left with nothing': Home burns down in 'tragic' blaze

The Turangi Volunteer Fire Service chief fire officer Tangonui Kingi said they firefighters were first alerted to the inferno at 7.54am and arrived in Kuratau about 15 minutes later. Photo / Facebook

The home that a primary school principal built nearly 30 years ago burnt to the ground in a "tragic" blaze, just hours before its owner was due to leave the country for a holiday with his family.

Kuratau School principal and former volunteer firefighter Craig McGregor is believed to have been smoking trout for a friend in his garage when the fire began about 7.30am, neighbour Maurice Costello of the small town on Lake Taupo said.

"They're left with nothing."

Mr McGregor was eating his breakfast when he smelt "more than a bit of smoke" and realised his garage was on fire, Mr Costello said.

"He was due to fly out today to meet his wife Prue, his kids and grandkids in Australia for the school holidays," he said.

Mr Costello said the nearest fire brigade, in Turangi, was about 20 kilometres away, as the Kuratau volunteer fire brigade had been disestablished by the council.

"They don't have a fire engine - it was taken away - they might have saved the house if they did. There's a bit of ill feeling about it."

He said despite this, the Turangi Volunteer Fire Brigade did their very best in keeping the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties.

The Turangi Volunteer Fire Service chief fire officer Tangonui Kingi said they firefighters were first alerted to the inferno at 7.54am and arrived in Kuratau about 15 minutes later to find the wooden house engulfed in flame.

Mr Kingi said there had been early reports of explosions inside the home and garage - which was not unusual during a house fire, as things like gas bottles could be stored inside.

The fire spread very fast, he said.

"Typically a house has a lot of highly flammable stuff inside - like mattresses, blankets and curtains."

Mr Kingi said he believed the fire had started somewhere around the home's garage, but the investigation into the cause was ongoing and he could not confirm whether it was caused by the smoking of a trout.

"This is a very tragic start to the school holidays. It just reminds us that you can never be too sure when a fire is going to happen."

Mr Kingi said Mr McGregor did the right thing, and got straight out of the house.

Neighbours who heard smoke alarms going off inside the home had initially called 111, he said.