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Home / The Country

Reporoa bands together to help family left with little after house blaze

Rotorua Daily Post
3 Oct, 2016 05:00 PM2 mins to read

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DAMAGE: Fire ripped through the house leaving it badly damaged. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

DAMAGE: Fire ripped through the house leaving it badly damaged. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Reporoa has come together to help a local family who lost almost everything in a house fire.

The September 22 fire destroyed the State Highway 5 house, leaving owners Anita Ngapene Webby and husband Lloyd Warren Webby devastated.

Mrs Webby had just put a log on the fire and was sitting beside it when she heard two "big booms" and sparks started flicking out.

She previously told the Rotorua Daily Post she felt like she had lost everything because she had no insurance.

The roof was left black with holes through it on one side and there was extensive damage throughout the house leaving it inhabitable.

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Reporoa Valley Traders owner Bruce Vermeulen said he had organised a working bee for the weekend and there would be another one this coming weekend to try and help the Webbys get their house to a habitable state.

"We are just trying to get them sorted for some accommodation at this stage. They have been staying with Anita's brother-in-law.

"Last weekend we had about 15 people come out. We did a tidy up and damage repairs, that all went well. We are just trying to sort the undamaged part out so they can live there while the rest gets fixed."

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He said people came from Taupo and Kaingaroa to help.

"There have been people working on the house off and on during the week when they have time.

"We have all lived in Reporoa all our lives and at the end of the day they don't have the resources so we are helping.

"We have a lot of manpower, but we do need more resources."

Mr Vermeulen said if anyone wanted to help they could call him on (027) 4505 915.

"They are humble people and they just need a hand," he said.

Rotorua fire safety investigator Stuart Bootten said the fire was most likely caused by a build-up of birds nests in the ceiling.

He said it was important for people in the country to check ceilings yearly for straw around light fittings or wires.

Mr Bootten said the house didn't have a smoke alarm and he encouraged others to have them installed.

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