Wanaka house fires: Residents flee burning homes

A house burns in Totara Tce, Wanaka, yesterday morning. Photo / Chris Adam

About a dozen people - including several children - fled two burning houses in Wanaka yesterday as firefighters rushed to the scene.

Property owner Kylie Stewart said it had quickly become clear her household had no time to lose.

Confronted with the horror of waking to the fire just before 4am, she and her partner screamed at the children to get out of their Totara Tce house.

"We literally had seconds," she said.

"Even a minute later would've been too late."

She owned the neighbouring house, whose occupants were relatives of hers, and that caught fire, too.

Everybody from both houses got out in time, but Batman the huntaway dog was lost.

One house and two cars were destroyed and damage to the other house was significant. Both homes were insured.

Medical treatment was needed at the scene for three people, St John spokesman Gerard Campbell said.

Firefighting crews from Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Alexandra and Luggate extinguished the blaze.

A shaken Miss Stewart told the Otago Daily Times yesterday afternoon she was relieved everyone had got out alive.

The fire had brought into perspective the importance of family, she said.

"Make sure they are the first thought every day."

The families had received amazing support from the community, including from the Wanaka Skate Club and retail shop Cheapskates Wanaka, she said.

Fire investigator John Smalls examines the destroyed house. Photo / Kerrie Waterworth

Fire investigator John Smalls said the heat of the fire might have approached 1000degC.
It had certainly exceeded the melting point for aluminium, 660.3degC.

He would carry out interviews today and another investigator would help him tomorrow.

Wanaka firefighter Tony Wellman said the house Miss Stewart was living in was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The house had been built with modern materials and they burnt quickly, he said.

The other house had also caught fire and firefighters had to make sure nobody was in either house.

Wanaka woman Tawna Woods had a daughter staying there with the child's father.

She has set up a Givealittle page to raise funds for the family.

Her daughter had lost half her belongings, she said.

Neighbours had provided clothing for family members who had fled the homes.

More than $1000 had been given via the Givealittle page as of last night.