Home for family

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33655, 3 October 1974, Page 1

Home for family

An Aranui family who lost their possessions when their flat was gutted by fire early yesterday morning, now have another home.

Mr and Mrs D. Edmonds and their four children will

move today to a State Advances house in Shirley. Clothing, appliances, a bedroom suite, money and other necessaries have also been offered to the family, who lost everything of value in the fire and escaped only in their pyjamas. Their possessions were not insured. Mrs M. Bums, of 5 Brockenhurst Street, said last evening that many people had offered to help the family. The offers included a fullyfurnished colonial style house on a seven-acre property for three weeks.

"They still do not have any. thing to eat from—plates, cups and dishes —or other pantry goods,” said Mrs Bums.

The North Canterbury Red Cross Society has given the family blankets, clothing, linen and toys. Efforts are being made to find beds for them. The fire in the State Advances flat at 1 Brockenhurst Street was noticed about 2.30 a.m. The family escaped only a short time before the flames spread through the bedrooms and kitchen. One of the few items salvaged was a fish tank with five goldfish. The fire brigade was called to the Brockenhurst Street flat again about 11 p.m. yesterday after a smouldering mattress caught fire. The New Brighton brigade

attended and quickly doused the mattress. A neighbour had seen the smoke and stopped a passing police car.