Neighbours save gifts

Press, 26 December 1985, Page 1

Neighbours save gifts

PA Auckland Teen-age neighbours smashed a window to save a family’s Christmas tree and presents as . fire turned cheer into char at a house in Browns Bay, Auckland. The owner of the house, Mr Adrian McDonnell, was at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass with his wife and three children when the fire started.

While one neighbour smashed the kitchen window and turned a garden hose on the spreading flames, the young people rushed to a room on the other side of the house to rescue the McDonnells’ presents. “Don’t worry, we got your tree and presents,” Mr McDonnell was told when

he returned from church. The fire started on the kitchen stove and engulfed part of the ceiling and roof, spreading along rafters to other rooms.

Much of the house was not badly damaged, but the Christmas Eve blaze left all but Mr McDonnell sleeping at neighbours’ houses, ana meant a grimy day of clearing up charred remains and water damage. The family finally opened the rescued presents at a friend’s house.

Mr McDonnell was philosophical about the charred Christmas atmosphere. “It could have been a lot worse,” he said “and we have a well smoked ham.”