Couple flee burning house

BY KIMBERLEY CRAYTON-BROWN

An Otatara couple received severe cuts after breaking a window in their bedroom to escape a fire in their home yesterday.

Invercargill and Kingswell fire crews were called to the Watt Rd property early Sunday and spent about four hours at the scene after the "well involved" fire was brought under control.

Invercargill senior station officer Alan Goldsworthy said it was "very close" to being a fatal fire.

He said a "saving grace" for the couple was that their bedroom door was closed, as this held the fire and a lot of the smoke back long enough to allow them to escape.

There did not appear to be a working smoke alarm in the house, he said.

The two were in a satisfactory condition in Southland Hospital yesterday.

Mr Goldsworthy said it was believed the blaze started around a pot belly fire and because of "poor fire safety considerations".

"The supposed cause of the fire is believed to be burning wood that fell out of the potbelly fire, igniting combustible material in the area."

Kingswell fire crews attended an Elles Rd house on Saturday night after a plastic container on a multi-fuel burner caught fire and melted.

Mr Goldsworthy said there was no fire damage to the house, but there was a lot of smoke.

Invercargill appliances were also called to a house fire on Saturday morning, which is being treated as suspicious.

Fire crews were called about 6am after people walking past the Nelson St property noticed the house, divided into three flats, was on fire.

Crews were on the scene for more than five hours.

Mr Goldsworthy said the living area in the main flat was severely damaged, and other flats were smoke-logged.

Fire safety officers and police are investigating, Mr Goldsworthy said.kimberley.crayton-brown@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News