Smoke alarms save dozing teen's life

LUCKY: Makoura College student Sebastain McEntee, 15, was home alone and almost sleep watching TV on Thursday night when a fire started in the laundry, triggering smoke alarms. PHOTO/NATHAN CROMBIE

A Carterton father has praised smoke alarms for saving the life of his son after fire erupted at their house as the teen was about to fall asleep while home alone on Thursday night.

Carterton Fire chief Wayne Robinson said the blaze broke out on the ground floor of the two-storey Belvedere Rd home and smoke alarms at the property had sounded the alert about 9.15pm on Thursday.

The 15-year-old was roused by the alarms and had fled the already smoke-logged house before calling the fire service and warning neighbours about the blaze, Mr Robinson said.

"If it wasn't for the fact there were smoke alarms - he was lying on the couch watching TV and ready to doze off - things could have been far worse. The alarms probably saved a life and definitely saved the home from greater damage."

Mr Robinson said the fire damage was greatest in the laundry and hall areas of the home and near the back door, and, while there was smoke damage throughout the house, "our guys did a great job stopping the fire from spreading".

"There was not a lot of serious structural damage, it's all repairable stuff. We had a good, quick response and it was a good save."

Mr Robinson said there had been two Carterton crews at the scene for about two hours, with a back-up crew from Greytown. Masterton firefighters supplied thermal imaging equipment to check for "hotspots" hidden from view in walls and ceilings.

Sebastain McEntee said he had bolted from the home after the smoke alarms sounded and he saw heavy smoke and fire near the laundry in the house.

"I was just about to go to sleep when the alarms started going off. I saw the smoke and big flames - a lot of flames - so I ran out and rang for help."

His father, Shayne McEntee, said he, his wife, and their two young daughters were out for the evening and Sebastain had been home alone and watching television.

"From what the fire investigator told us, it was the dryer that caused the fire - a broken belt - the motor probably seized and there was enough heat to spark a flame."

Mr McEntee, who works as a dairy farmer, said he was called and told of the blaze about 9.30pm and, after arriving home, saw plumes of smoke billowing from windows that had been opened in the upstairs rooms.

He said the couple had full fire insurance and he agreed with Mr Robinson the smoke alarms had raised enough of an early warning to help curtail the spread of fire, and likely saved his son's life.

"If it had been half an hour later, he would have been sound asleep and he's a heavy sleeper. Without those alarms, he might have gone to sleep and never woken up again," he said.

"The alarms were crucial. I recommend them to everybody."

Mr McEntee also praised the volunteer Carterton firefighters for "an excellent job" in saving the home, where he and his family had been living since June last year.

He said the family had already planned as part of his work to shift from the Belvedere Rd property to a rural home next week, and they would stay in temporary accommodation in the meantime.