Community rallies for Paekakariki family after house fire

Louis Winder looks through house fire debris.

More than $12,000 in donations has poured in to help a family whose house burnt down in Paekakariki.

Louis Winder, Sharon Hall, their daughter Ruby Hall, 3, the family's bearded collie Charlie, and a family friend escaped unharmed from the two storey house fire on the corner of Wellington Rd and Beach Rd about 5am on Wednesday last week.

"Everyone has been so helpful and we've had lots of offers of assistance," Louis said.

"We've got a good friend who is coordinating donations and stuff like that."

The family lost all their possessions in the blaze.

A house fire rages on the corner of Wellington Rd and Beach Rd Paekakariki. Photo: Marcel Hamann

While the house, which was built in 1911, was insured, the contents weren't.

"Sharon had collected a lot of amazing stuff over the years — antiques, artwork — and everything meant something.

"You couldn't pick something up without a meaning behind it."

His message to the community was: "Thanks so much helping us and caring.

"We can't thank you enough for your efforts and well wishes."

Kapiti Coast District Council deputy mayor Janet Holborow, who lives nearby, said the speed of the fire was "unbelievable".

"It's just utterly devastating.

"It took hold so fast and fiercely.

Witness Marcel Hamann was also shocked at the speed of the fire.

"It was so quick.

"They were so lucky to get out."

Paekakariki Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer Aaron Richardson said 10 fire crews attended the house fire.

Occupants in the house had been evacuated with the assistance of neighbours when the first crews arrived to find a "fully involved" fire.

"We got to work protecting mainly the exposures, which were a couple of neighbouring properties right next door.

"There was a very strong easterly wind which was causing significant risk for the other properties around us.

"Once we had managed that, we got to work at containing and then extinguishing the fire."

Ms Holborow has started a Givealittle page to raise funds for the family.

She wrote: In the early hours of the morning of 7 February, the family, including their three-year-old daughter and a guest, woke to find flames engulfing their much loved home. Thankfully they escaped unharmed, but they are left with only the clothes on their back. The Paekakariki community will help to get them back on their feet, but they need your support. The family will need funds for clothes, food and accommodation as a starting point and any donations would be extremely helpful and sincerely appreciated. Household items are not covered by their insurance policy. Funds will be used for clothes, food and accommodation and any surplus funds will be put towards replacing household items.

The Givealittle page is here