Fire alarms save Masterton family from blaze

A family of four are thankful for smoke alarms and prompt action from firefighters after they were unable to put out a washing machine fire.

The fire service were called to Cockburn St in Masterton around 7.30pm last night when tenants tried to contain a blaze in their laundry with a garden hose and extinguishers.

The family with two children, who asked not to be named, had to wait outside while two fire crews extinguished the fire.

One man, the father, said he tackled the 6-year-old washing machine with extinguishers and the garden hose, but it wasn't going to go out.

He came out to hug his children after the fire crew began packing up. "We'll have to stay in the lounge tonight - with no power."

The mother said they had been alerted by smoke alarms just as they were sitting down to dinner.

"It happened so fast. We were having tea in the lounge, and the alarm went off ... You've got to love the landlord, putting smoke alarms in."

She was also thankful for the fire brigade, who arrived in minutes, she said.

The landlord, who was outside, said he had put five alarms in the house.

"Thankfully they didn't open the washing machine, otherwise the house might have gone right up.

He said the laundry and bathroom and hallway were "gutted".

The landlord said the fire brigade were "amazing.

"No one's been injured, that's the main thing."