Room explodes in fire as mother walks in

February 11, 2009

A single room left untouched after a fire ripped through a Lower Hutt home proves the importance of keeping internal doors closed, firefighters say.
The property in Prouse Cres, Naenae, was almost destroyed by the fire, which began in a child's bedroom about 9.30am yesterday.
Senior station officer John Busby said it was believed to have been started by a toddler playing with matches.
'He went and asked his mum for a towel and when she went to find out why, she walked into the room and it just exploded.'
The woman and her two children escaped the fire without injury.
It is understood the family moved into the rented house two weeks ago.
The fire was put out by 10am, but firefighters remained at the house for the rest of the morning to dampen down hotspots.
Mr Busby said the fact a small bedroom escaped the fire 'relatively unscathed' proved the importance of starving a fire of oxygen in order to limit property damage.
'I know because of the warm weather people like to ventilate their homes, but it is especially important [to keep internal doors closed] at night times in homes,' he said.
With the permission of the tenants, he allowed The Dominion Post to go inside the destroyed home 'because people need to see this'.