Fire destroys house in Kaponga

The house was gutted by the fire.

A house in Kaponga was destroyed by fire late on Friday night.

Fire services attended the fire at 11pm on Friday after someone in a neighbouring property called 111.

The owner of the house was out and had only bought it six weeks ago.

Close friend Gary Anderson says the woman had been renting the house for some years before purchasing it.

"It was just lucky she was out at the time, but she has lost everything in the fire." In her early 30s, the owner lived there with a flatmate who was away up north on holiday at the time of the fire. Her mother visited the scene of the fire on Saturday morning, taking pictures to send to her daughter.

Gary says the community is supporting the woman with clothing donations and money being dropped off at the local Four Square.

"She's lost everything, and obviously is really upset right now. I think it really hit her this morning."

Gary says the woman's horse bolted at the time of the fire when a gas bottle exploded, but was later caught and is safely in a paddock.

"That's the other thing she needs right now really, food for her animals. She has a cat, dog and the horse."

Kaponga chief fire officer Jason Hurley says crews from Okaiawa and Eltham joined the crew from Kaponga in fighting the fire and firefighters remained a the scene until 3am on Saturday morning.

Donations for the woman can be dropped off at the Kaponga Four Square or at the Stratford Press office in Stratford. Gary says her clothing size is a New Zealand 12.