Family safe after dryer catches fire

A Wairarapa family who woke to find their dryer on fire early Wednesday morning were able to make a hasty escape.

The fire in Judds Rd, Masterton, about 3.30am started in a clothes dryer, in the laundry, spread to the roof and back porch, and burned through a water pipe.

Masterton Fire Station officer Garry Nielsen said the family had escaped the blaze, before firefighters arrived, and tried to put it out with a garden hose.

Mr Nielsen said their efforts did not go astray.

"They probably made a bit of difference."

The roof and back porch area had sustained some structural damage and there was quite a bit of water damage as a result of the water pipe being burnt.

Mr Nielsen said the family was alerted by smoke alarms.

"The smoke alarms did their job ... They woke up because of the smoke alarms."

It took about eight firefighters to put out the blaze and a fire crew stayed at the scene until 6.30am.