Wellington family lose all their possessions in Karori house fire

Yon, 11, was gaming when the fire broke out at his family's home in Karori. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

A Wellington family who fled their burning home with nothing but the clothes on their backs say God must have sent an angel to save them from the flames after a man banged on their door to warn them.

The trio, who have been left with nothing, now plan to spend Christmas with a pastor from their church after the blaze gutted the Karori house this month.

Mary, who did not want her surname used, said she was sleeping and her mother was in the shower on the afternoon of December 11 when a man came knocking on the door to warn them of the fire.

“He just knocked my door ... I chased him, I asked him, ‘who are you looking for?’ He said ‘come out’, he just said ‘look’ and pointed behind. I turn my head around and see the fire,” Mary said.

“I think Jesus sent an angel to us ... [to] save us from the fire.”

She said the back deck of the home was ablaze and she rallied her mother, Martha, and her 11-year-old son, Yon, so they could escape.

The fire began around the back of the property but damage can be seen stretching to the front of the house. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

“I see my car and I want to go back to get my car key and they grab us, no returning.”

Yon, who was playing on his computer when the fire began, said the incident was “very shocking”.

“There was a window and I saw a big fire,” he said. “I just run, run away from the house.”

The family still don’t know how the fire started, but the house they were renting has been badly damaged. Charring can be seen stretching from the back of the property to the front entrance.

Mary said they were now “lost” with “no direction”, relying on the kindness of others to rebuild their lives after all their possessions were destroyed or damaged.

They are staying in a property owned by the Karori Anglican Church on Fancroft St, and the church is collecting donations for them.

“A family in our community lost their home last night to a significant fire,” the church said on Facebook after the incident.

“Unfortunately, they have lost their entire house contents. We know many people are asking how they can help and your help is really needed.

“If you would like to support their immediate needs, please make a donation to Karori Anglican Churches 02-0500-0019955-00 reference ‘fire’.

“The family really appreciate your generosity.”

Yon, 11, says he ran away from the house after this family were alerted to the blaze. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

Mary said neighbours came out and offered them warm clothes, drinks and food as the house burned.

They have been gifted plenty of clothes in the days since but must now work to rebuild all their other household items.

The family are originally from Malaysia and have lived in New Zealand on and off for some years.

The house has been gutted, with all the family's possessions damaged or destroyed. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

Martha said she had already cried over the Hong Kong apartment fire in recent days, which killed at least 159 people, and now had gone through her own ordeal. She said she was thinking about the fire every day.

Anyone wishing to donate to the family can email accounts@karorianglican.org.nz for more information.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said the investigation into the fire is continuing.

Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 12 years.