Te Awamutu couple lose everything in house fire

Photo: Wayne Meyer

Residents of a house that went up in flames were 15 months into renovations and are expecting their second child.

The fire was accidental and involved a gas heater, senior specialist fire investigator Peter Hallett says.

"It's a total loss of property, contents and car," Mr Hallett says.

Te Awamutu couple Steve and Jenna Holden live at the Ohaupo Rd house with their two-year-old daughter.

On Sunday afternoon Jenna and her daughter were outside the house chatting to their neighbour Doris Pitcon while Mr Holden was at work.

Mrs Pitcon says she heard a loud bang at around 4pm - likely windows smashing.

Smoke billowed out the windows and reached a car parked on the property.

Photo: Wayne Meyer

"Jenna screamed, 'my house is on fire'," she says.

"She called the fire brigade and was screaming the house number into the phone.

"She was as white as a ghost but handled the situation really well."

Firefighters from Te Awamutu, Cambridge and Hamilton arrived and police cordoned off part of Ohaupo Rd.

Photo: Wayne Meyer

Mrs Pitcon says the couple didn't deserve what happened.

"They are lovely neighbours and very good people."

A neighbour, who wants to remain unnamed, says her partner tried to push the car away from the fire but was unsuccessful.

She says the public has been organising clothes and bedding for the family.

"They have lost everything."

The Holdens would like to thank the public for the overwhelming support.