Fires make family quit State house

Press, 17 August 1977, Page 1

Fires make family quit State house

Three fires in less than two months have proved too much for the Lewis family, of Aranui. Mr A. N. Lewis, his wife, and three children have been forced to leave by a fire which yesterday gutted part of their State house in Hampshire Street. The two previous fires, one in a bed and the other in the kitchen, caused only minor damage. “We were lucky then but this one was a lot worse,” said Mr Lewis. He believes that the fire. . which broke out about 2.35 p.m., was caused by two of

his children playing with a cigarette lighter. Neighbours raised the alarm and two engines from the New Brighton and Central fire stations were able to stop the flames from spreading. Damage was confined mainly to the upper floor of the two-storeyed, semidetached house. “I was on the way back from the shops when I saw the smoke pouring out. 1 was terrified—l thought it was our place," said Mrs K. Carr, who lives in the adjoining house. Smoke filled Mrs Carr’s

home but there was no damage. Fire-safety officers and detectives are investigating the cause of the fire, which had not been established last evening. The ground floor of the house was extensively damaged by smoke and water. The Lewis family spent last night with neighbours two doors away. Mr Lewis said that the Housing Corporation had promised to find him another State house today. “But we have had a lot of offers of help from the neighbours. They have been really great.” he said.