[ad_1]
A Dunedin mother says she doesn’t expect to hear an apology from the neighbor whose blazing fire destroyed her home and possessions.
Fire investigators have confirmed that embers from the one-day fire pit caused the blaze on a windy Saturday afternoon.
The fire on Beaconsfield Rd in Portobello threatened other properties and 14 houses had to be evacuated.
Alice Hudson, who rents the house, was there with two of her three children when the fire started.
She told RNZ today that she is angry that the fire could have been so easily prevented.
Ms. Hudson said she knew the source of the fire the entire time, as she detected the beginning, and it was “a relief” that it was confirmed.
“The smoke that I initially saw was just the fire pit. As I ran outside, the hedge had just started to rise, but I was seeing more embers transfer from the fire pit to the hedge with each gust of wind.
“And in three gusts of wind the whole shed and trees were on fire.”
Ms. Hudson said the neighbor’s fire pit was about six feet from the tree line of the macrocarpa hedge and that the fire could have been “so avoidable.”
“It’s just bullshit actually, who the heck doesn’t pour water on a blimmin ‘fire pit when there are severe wind warnings? Who has one the day before?
“I’m angry, but it doesn’t make sense to be angry, because it doesn’t change the fact that we lost everything.
“An apology doesn’t change a thing – I highly doubt he’ll give it to me.
“Our owner also lost a lot, it was his house … it’s quite devastating and very preventable.”
The community has come together to help, coordinating drop off points for donations, bikes, clothing and a car were also offered. The family also lives for free in a house provided by a Portobello couple until the new year.
Ms. Hudson told RNZ that the community has been “absolutely terrific.”
“Actually, I don’t even know where to start thanking people. It’s really amazing the generosity. The local volunteer fire brigade who risked their lives. I don’t know how to thank them enough. Much more for burning.”
She said locals also did what they could to help out on Saturday.
“A guy was cleaning the neighbor’s porch so his house wouldn’t catch fire … Saving all the animals, because a lot of people weren’t at home.”
A Givealittle page for the family had raised just over $ 25,000 on Wednesday morning.
– additional ODT Online reports
