Boy alerts family to fire

Press, 29 June 1987, Page 1

Boy alerts family to fire

By NEIL CLARKSON A Burnham boy, aged four, roused his sleeping father and sisters yesterday to tell them that their house was on fire. The fire, which started in the ceiling space near the chimney, gutted the house at Burnham Military Camp. Lance-Corporal Tony Karauria said his son, Matene, woke him at 7.45 a.m. “He came running into the bedroom saying, 'Daddy, Daddy, smoke’. “I couldn’t see any smoke. I thought he was having me on. “I got up and opened the lounge door and was hit by a ball of fire.” Lance-Corporal Karauria said he asked Matene to tell Michelle, aged eight, and Tania, aged 11, to get out of the house. .

“My little brother came running in and said ‘There’s a fire’,” said Michelle. Tania, the first awake, said she did not believe him but then saw the smoke. Lance-Corporal Karauria said he ran outside to get the hose then realised the children were still in the bedroom, standing by a window. “I ran back in. I couldn’t see where I was going because of the smoke. “I finally found it and put them but through the bedroom window. I then ran back to look for the dog. It must have shot out the door.” The family’s two cats perished in the fire, which was put out by the Burnham Camp fire brigade. The Kea Street home is unstable and may be bulldozed today. Mrs Janet Karauria had

gone to work at 5.30 a.m. that morning. A fire which the family had in the grate the evening before was out when she left for work. The blaze is thought to have started in structural timber near the chimney in the ceiling space. It may have smouldered for some time before igniting.. The faniily had been in the house a year. Among the possessions they lost was a new freezer bought on Friday. The family’s clothes appeared - undamaged but smelt strongly of smoke, he said. .*/; They are staying with relatives at Rolleston and hope to get another Army house today. Picture, page 5