Cause of cottage fire not identified

THE cause of a fire that destroyed a small cottage on a property in Stainton Road, between Ruatoria and Tikitiki, has not yet been determined.

The two-bedroom building was destroyed in a blaze seen by a neighbour at about 2.30pm last Thursday afternoon.

“The fire investigation will be a process of elimination to identify a definite cause for that fire to start,” said specialist fire investigator Derek Goodwin.

The 52-year-old man who lived there lost everything. He was away from the property when the fire started.

The police and fire safety investigation continues.