Fire sparks surprise for neighbours
BY DIANA WORTHY
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Residents in Onetangi are praising prompt action from fire-fighters after a fierce blaze got them jumping from their beds in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Four fire tenders quickly arrived at the scene in Eden Terrace, Onetangi, after neighbours called the emergency number.
Fire chief Ron Leonard says when crews arrived at around 3.25am a caravan and shed were ablaze along with the top of a tall macrocarpa tree overlooking nearby homes.
He says there were two fires on each side of the driveway to the property, and thinks someone may have started them deliberately.
Police though say they are not actively pursuing the matter.
Mr Leonard says crews responded to the emergency call-out while the property owner was woken by neighbours, who urged him to evacuate his home until the fire had been put out.
Next door neighbour Mikala Venn, who has a young child, says it was very scary and had feared the blazing tree might topple onto the roof of her home.
"The smoke was quite bad. Quite a few of the neighbours turned out to see what was happening."
Fire-fighters quickly doused the flames and ensured the tree would not reignite.
Ms Venn is paying tribute to them, saying their response was fast and efficient.
The fire was just one of a number of incidents on Sunday morning needing help from the brigade.
There were two call-outs to a rogue burglar alarm in Pendragon Mall, Oneroa, and another call from a resident unable to turn off her smoke alarm.
Mr Leonard says the crews managed to get their breakfast "but I could have done with more sleep".
Earlier in the week the brigade had another early morning turn-out when a car crashed into a power pole in Pacific Parade.
- Waiheke Marketplace
