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A West Coast family lost everything but the clothes on their back when fire gutted their house early this morning.
Westport chief fire officer Pat O'Dea said the house, in Waimangaroa, 17km north-east of Westport, was "completely burned out".
One Westport appliance attended the 3.30am fire, along with a Waimangaroa fire truck.
The source of the blaze has been identified as a candle.
The occupants were checked for smoke inhalation, but Mr O'Dea said they "looked pretty safe".
- NZPA
