Father rescued sleeping daughter as house burned

A father who felt his way through a burning bedroom black with smoke to rescue his sleeping two-year-old daughter has been praised by firefighters.

Lindsay Balks could not see or hear anything as he felt his way through the smoke to get to daughter Savannah.

The Fire Service today said she could have died had she been left any longer in the blaze.

Mr Balks was sitting in the lounge of the house in Nelson, visiting his ex-partner Rona Strang and their three children, when a flatmate saw smoke coming from Savannah's bedroom about 11.30am yesterday.

Her bed was close to the door which a flatmate kicked in, allowing Mr Balks to get to his daughter.

Describing it as the "the most horrendous experience I've ever had", Mr Balks said he became disorientated once inside Savannah's room.

"I knew the room inside out but with that much smoke and noise I just lost track of where I was," he said.

Savannah's bedroom, the lounge, kitchen and bathroom were badly damaged in the fire, ruining beds, clothing, children's toys and most of the family's possessions. Other rooms had smoke and heat damage.

"Half the house is complete ash," Mr Balks said.

His other two children, aged eight and six, arrived home from school to the devastating news they had lost most of their clothes and all their toys. Savannah was fine, for which he felt "very lucky".

"She doesn't know anything about it. When I pulled her out of the room, she carried on the rest of the day as her usual happy self."

Ms Strang today said she had no insurance to cover the loss. Victim Support had helped the family by finding temporary alternative accommodation.

Nelson Fire Service station officer Brian O'Donnell said 12 firefighters attended the fire and could see smoke as they left the station.

While the Fire Service did not encourage people to enter burning buildings, Mr O'Donnell said he believed Mr Balks' actions saved a life in this case.

"I think he did a really good job. It took a lot of courage to do what he did," he said.

"I think they're really lucky to have that kid. Another minute and they wouldn't have had that child."

Firefighters knew how the fire started but would not comment other than to say it was not suspicious.

St John ambulance team leader Lindsay McCaw said Savannah was taken to Nelson Hospital for a precautionary check but was in good spirits.

- nzpa