A Stoneburn farmer says he is grateful to neighbours and community who have rallied around him after a fire destroyed his home, only months after he bought the farm.Andy Denham moved to the sheep farm on Taieri Peak Rd, near Dunback, in August, after selling his farm in Rangiora.
The plan was for his partner, who is still living in Rangiora but spends weekends with Mr Denham, to move in as soon as she sold her house.
But that plan was scuttled at the weekend when Mr Denham's house burned to the ground after a fire started in wiring in the bathroom.
When the couple returned home at 9.30pm on Friday after a children's Halloween party, they found the house on fire.
Knowing the nearest fire crew was at least 25 minutes away in Palmerston, Mr Denham called a neighbour to try to help him salvage what they could.
The neighbour called 111 and other neighbours and soon a group had responded to his call for help.
They managed to save the animals in the house - two cats, a dog and a puppy, clothes, beds and some paperwork - but the rest was destroyed.
"We had just put new carpet in the house.
''This is just one of those things."
The fire had devastated him and holidays would never be the same for his children, who lived in Rangiora, he said.
He described his neighbours and the people in the nearby small town of Dunback as "sterling".
"I just want to say that this community's been really helpful.
''The fire brigade was great.
''When they got here they had it out in 10 minutes.
''Everyone's been fantastic really."
Since the fire, he had been staying with his neighbours and would soon start renting the Dunback schoolhouse while the farm house was rebuilt.
