Canterbury couple rebuilds from scratch after Christmas Day fire destroys house

A Canterbury couple’s holidays have been ruined after their belongings went up in flames during a Christmas Day fire.

A Canterbury couple are rebuilding from scratch after their house was burned down in a Christmas Day fire, taking with it IDs, household items and Christmas presents.

Emergency services were called to a single-storey residential home in Mitcham, south of Christchurch, just before 4pm on Wednesday following reports of a kitchen fire that had spread to other parts of the house.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said crews found the house and a motorhome well involved upon arrival.

A motorhome was among the items lost after a Canterbury woman’s house went up in flames on Christmas Day.

“There was a 10m x 10m structure where part of the roof had collapsed.

Sharon Kennedy’s son Connor Littlejohn set up a Givealittle page for “getting my parents back on their feet, such as clothes beds household items”.

He told the Herald his mum and her partner had been sitting outside in their pool on Christmas morning.

“They went inside to put some food on and saw a fire inside the wall that spread to the kitchen and rest of the house,” he said.

“They tried to get the hose in and then the whole wall was on fire in the spare room and the dining room table.”

A Canterbury couple are rebuilding from scratch after their house went up in flames on Christmas Day.

The fire also spread to a house bus parked next to the property.

“They would have been able to put that somewhere, use that for accommodation, but the whole inside of that is gutted.”

The fire claimed the couple’s clothes, household items, and mementos in addition to their passports, drivers’ licences and birth certificates.

He said the couple have now been overwhelmed with donations of physical items, but the emotional rebuild would take longer.

“Even the Christmas presents were under the tree,” O’Connor said.

“We weren’t going there until Saturday for Christmas lunch. Everything was there waiting for that day, now it has gone.”

The Kennedys’ daughter Annabel wrote on Facebook: “My mum and partner’s house burnt to the ground on Christmas day in Mitchem area”.

“She is staying with her son in chch [Christchurch], Thank you for your generosity.

“Any donations would be appreciated or if you have any house old stuff, clothes etc would also be grateful as we know how tough times are these days for everyone.

“Your generosity is not going unnoticed.”

David Williams is an Auckland-based Multimedia Journalist who joined the Herald in 2023. He covers breaking news and general topics.

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