FLAMING HAPPY: Thrilled Bellingham Cres resident Natasha Te Au and trainee firefighter Hayden Palmer. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 280314SP4
FLAMING HAPPY: Thrilled Bellingham Cres resident Natasha Te Au and trainee firefighter Hayden Palmer. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 280314SP4
Fordlands residents are rejoicing after an abandoned, derelict, "eyesore" of a house was burned to the ground.
The derelict house at 29 Bellingham Cres was intentionally set alight as part of a New Zealand Fire Training Centre exercise for new recruits yesterday.
The Rotorua District Council recently agreed to purchasethe property, which had become a dumping ground for household rubbish, old mattresses, broken furniture and other waste, with the intention of clearing it.
New Zealand Fire Training Centre manager Alan Cleator said burning the house provided 22 trainee firefighters with a controlled fire experience and at the same time quickly cleared the property.
"I think it's a win-win. It's good for us, our recruits get valuable experience in a safe and controlled environment, and it's good for the council and the community who want to see the building gone," he said.
In the past recruits have had to go as far as Taupo or Putaruru to get a similar experience, Mr Cleator said. The recruits were in their 11th week of a 12-week training course and were sent into the building in groups to practice partially putting out the fire.
"It's like your mother saying the kettle is hot, you never know how hot until you stick your finger on it. It's the same with the recruits, no matter how many tests they've done, how much they've learned, real life experience is invaluable."
The remains of the house were expected to be fully cleared by Monday, he said.
Residents living close to the house gathered to watch it burn over several hours - and all were happy to see it go.
Natasha Te Au, who lives opposite the property, said she was thrilled to know she would no longer have to wake up and see the ugly building.
Image 1 of 3: 280314sp6 29 Bellingham Cres is going to be set on fire for trainee firefighters. 28 March 2014 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
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"Every day that's the first thing I see, I don't want to see that crap, covered in graffiti and rubbish," she said.
"So good riddance, it's about time we got rid of it."
Ms Te Au said the property was one of a handful of vacant houses that had become a huge problem in the neighbourhood over the past four or five years. At least once a week people would drive past in cars and dump their rubbish at the site, she said.
It had become infested with rats and was a hazard for children or youths who would sometimes climb on the roof of the building, she said.
"It gives me heart palpitations every time I see a kid near this house."
While it was great to see the council take positive action to tidy up the Fordlands area, there was a lot more that could be done in the area, she said.
She hoped the site would be used for a community garden and other derelict buildings in the area would be next in line to be razed.
