Man escapes as home burns (+video)

A Waikite Valley man escaped his burning home with nothing but a handful of clothes after being woken by the sound of a smoke alarm.

The Dods Rd house, opposite the Tyburn Monastery, was "well involved" by the time the Rotorua Fire Brigade arrived yesterday morning.

Senior Station Officer Colin Rolfe said firefighters' only option had been to try to protect the neighbouring garage.

The fire was discovered around 6.50am, Mr Rolfe said.

"It was well involved when we got there and due to the lack of water our priority was to protect the garage.

"We protected the garage but in the meantime the house was burning. There wasn't a lot we could have done."

He said when a tanker arrived with extra water the house was "almost flattened".

"The owner was in the house when it started.

"He'd got up, stoked the fire, and went back to bed. He was asleep and was awakened by his smoke alarm.

"He investigated and the house was full of smoke so he went back to his room, grabbed some clothes and jumped out of the window."

Fire safety investigator Stuart Bootten was at the house yesterday to find out what had started the blaze.

He said early investigations were that it was not suspicious.

Mr Rolfe said it was fortunate the man had a working smoke alarm.

"The main thing is he's alive. If he'd not had a smoke alarm, who knows? It could have been a different ending."

Rotorua residents can get a free fire safety check by calling 0800 NZ FIRE to make an appointment.

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