Fire upsets travel plans

The fire that damaged the roof of a Mosgiel house early yesterday also created a minor travel problem for Philippa Mitchell. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.

She had already looked out the clothes she wanted to take but had not got around to getting her suitcases down from the ceiling.

Then, at 5.35am yesterday, the ceiling of the family home in Forfar St, Mosgiel, caught fire and her suitcases were melted.

Buying new luggage is just one of the issues the Mitchell family - Philippa, husband Evan and their children Bailey (12) and Hayden (8) - have to sort out as they clear possessions from the house in which they have lived for 14 years.

Mrs Mitchell said she was woken by the sound of what she thought was someone running on the roof and woke her husband.

The family got out of the house unharmed and the children even went to school yesterday.

Mr Mitchell said the fire began above the dining room, apparently starting around a down-light.

It spread across about a third of the roof before being extinguished by the Fire Service.

A smoke alarm which was disconnected while renovations were being done would not have been triggered because there was no smoke inside the house, he said.

The property was fully insured and the family were busy yesterday shifting into the home of another family member.

It is expected the house will be repaired and Mrs Mitchell will not be delaying her holiday.

- mark.price@odt.co.nz