The Tongan community in Hastings was last night rallying around a family whose home was badly damaged by a midday fire believed to have started from a smoking oven, which was preparing meat for their church pastor's farewell later in the day.
About eight people lived in the house in Karaitiana St, Frimley, including a 2-month-old baby, but none were home at the time the fire was noticed by passersby a few minutes before midday.
Senior station officer Mike Peachey, of the Fire Service, Hastings, said the smoking oven had been in a safe position about three metres outside the rear of the house, but it appeared a mattress close by had fallen on to the smoker, ignited and created a fire which gutted one room at the rear and caused smoke and water damage through the rented four-bedroom home.
Mr Peachey said the house was saved by the quick reaction of passersby who called the fire service and went on to the property to move a van out of the reach of the flames.
The rear was in flames by the time two crews arrived minutes later from the Hastings station, less than 1km away.