Elderly couple taken in after blaze

Goodwill has put a roof over the heads of an elderly Masterton couple who lost their home of 22 years to fire on Tuesday.
Masterton Fire Service acting station officer Kevin Crozier said two Masterton crews of firefighters and a backup Carterton crew attended the blaze at a River Road address about 5pm on Tuesday.
He said the elderly couple, Paddy and Barry Norris, were safely outside their home when the first fire crew arrived although the blaze had taken a firm hold on the rear of the small cottage by that time.
"They were both pale and had smoke round their lips. It took about 10 minutes to contain the fire, which apparently started after a pot was left on the stove."
Mrs Norris said yesterday the fire broke out after she left a pot cooking on her stove and that she and her husband, who is now recovering from a hip replacement operation at Wairarapa Hospital, both escaped the blaze unharmed.
"I saw the flames and we both just rushed out of there. The house is a write-off but thankfully we're both still safe and happy.
"Barry's operation was scheduled for the day after the fire so he kept it anyway and a good neighbour has opened her home to me.
"We're just waiting to see what assessors come up with and we'll make a decision about our future from here.
"We've lived there for 22 years and even though we lost all our treasured and day-to-day things, that's where we'll keep living if at all possible."
Kitchen appliances from their home including the stove, a large fridge and a microwave oven, were destroyed in the blaze and were visible from outside the two-bedroom house.