Just over a week after the fire which destroyed their
Ranfurly home and two business premises, Dick and Janet
Parker are busy getting on with life.
Dick and Janet Parker stand outside the ruins of their home
and business. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Without help from the wider community, recovering from
the fire would not have been possible, they said.
"Words can't say how thankful we are. Without the community
support I couldn't have gotten through . . . Victim Support,
family, friends, and other community members have been
tremendous," Mrs Parker said.
On March 8, Mr and Mrs Parker (both 58) were woken at 5am by
local butcher Graeme Jones, who saw flames and smoke coming
from the 1940s Art Deco building owned and occupied by the
couple.
They escaped unscathed, with pet cockatiel Eddy, just before
their home on the top floor filled with smoke from the blaze
below.
Their apartment, Ranfurly Auto workshop business, and
Ranfurly Bike Hire tourism operation were gutted in what was
thought to be the town's largest structure fire for at least
30 years.
Another business within the building was destroyed and an
adjoining cafe damaged by smoke and water.
Smoke alarms activated as Mr and Mrs Parker left the
main-street complex with nothing bar the nightclothes they
were wearing as about 25 volunteer firefighters from
Ranfurly, Naseby and Omakau moved in.
Initial investigations indicated the fire started in the auto
workshop smoko room, although a cause has not yet been
identified.
It is not being treated as suspicious.
About 10 vehicles in the garage were destroyed, including a
client's Porsche.
Mrs Parker said house and contents insurance would cover the
cost of most of the damage, although a detailed analysis had
yet to be completed.
"It has been a massive job, working with insurance assessors,
but it's too soon for us to know exactly where we're at. We
are not as bad off as some people," she said.
The couple had "indefinite" accommodation with family in
Ranfurly and were busy operating Ranfurly Bike Hire from
temporary premises.
The former employees of Ranfurly Auto had had to be "let go"
and were looking for alternative work until the business was
able to reopen, Mrs Parker said.
"Hopefully, they will come back to us when the time comes.
The business is [at] a stalemate at the moment and we are
waiting on the experts to make decisions about what is
salvageable," she said.
Mrs Parker said she and Mr Parker had been "inundated" with
offers of accommodation, money, food, clothing, and household
items.
"We would never have been homeless - we had at least six
places to stay. The baking and food has been amazing, as well
as all the donations - we even got a bundle of cash from one
of the businesses we have a lot to do with in Alexandra," she
said.
Mrs Parker said such support would not happen in many other
places and the couple hoped to be able to repay the community
"in due course".
"We will worry about ourselves last, because that's just the
people we are. Hopefully, we will be building up from now
on," she said.
- rosie.manins@odt.co.nz
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