The Nelson community is rallying to help a family left with nothing after their home was gutted by fire on Sunday morning.
Fire services were called to the Waimea Rd property, just opposite the Caltex service station at around 8:15am with the fire being extinguished by 10am.
Fire service southern communications shift manager Tim Reynolds said all the occupants were safely evacuated from the rental property and treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but the house and a parked car on the driveway were “significantly damaged.”
One of the occupants, who spoke to the Nelson Weekly, but did not want to be named, said there were five of them in the house, including a one-year-old child.
“Everybody had a check over with the ambo team and all good, but everything in the house is gone,” they said.
But just hours after the fire, a driver from Nelson City Taxis, who was around when the incident happened, put out a call to start a collection for the family.
A donation box has been set up at taxi company’s office on Selwyn St, with a handwritten note asking people to “give a little for this cause.”
A spokesperson from Nelson City Taxis says they have already received a collection of money to pass on to the family, and they have also had a great response from posting it on Facebook.
The house occupant says the community support so far has been “overwhelming.”
“Thank you to all who have taken their time out for us.”
People can also email manysmiles2give@gmail.com to donate items or money.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
