A taxi driver passing a Masterton home that was billowing smoke called emergency services and averted what could have become a major blaze on Thursday, says a senior firefighter.
Masterton station officer Mike Cornford said a fire crew scrambled to the Kippenberger St property and doused a fire that had broken out in a heat pump in the house while the occupants were out.
He said there had been scorching on a wall and the house had filled with smoke before the fire crew arrived and extinguished the fire. The cabbie's timely call had probably averted a more serious blaze.
"If the taxi driver hadn't seen the smoke and called it in, in another five or 10 minutes it could have been a different story."
The owner of the home was at the scene soon after the fire was doused and police took statements from tenants to help rule out the possibility of arson. Mr Cornford said it seemed unlikely the fire was deliberately lit.
