Holidaymakers escape blazing inferno in Houhora

Two holidaymakers in the Far North are lucky to have suffered just minor burns after fleeing a burning cottage in the middle of the night. However, they lost all their belongings in the blaze at Far North Rd, Houhora, about 12.30am yesterday.
Pukekohe couple Neville Clark and Candice Robertson spent the rest of the night on their boat which was still on a trailer at Deep Water Lodge. Mr Clark, who suffered burns to his feet, said his partner noticed fire in the lounge and woke him up. They fled, leaving behind clothes, money, a camera and other belongings, all of which were destroyed.
The loss of the cottage also means lodge owner Warren Rogers has had to cancel holidays for several groups who were scheduled to stay over the summer break. Insurance assessors are due next week but Mr Rogers is unsure whether he will replace the cottage.
He was watching TV when he heard shouts for help. He saw the flames, got his family out of their house and his wife called the fire brigade. He tried to douse the fire with a garden hose, but it was too fierce.
Deputy chief fire officer Colin Kitchen said by the time a fire tender from Houhora and two from Kaitaia arrived, the cottage had been destroyed and fire was spreading to Mr Rogers' house and lodge.
"The heat from the cottage caught the side of the double storey house... it had spread through the walls and on to the ceiling of the house," he said. Five to 10 percent of the house was damaged.