The smell of a family's burned possessions will help Dunedin people understand the devastating potential of fire.
The Fire Service will hold an open day at 140 Somerville St, Waverley, on Saturday to show people how quickly a small fire can rage to destroy so much.
Most of the top storey of the two-level house was destroyed last Wednesday night, by a fire that started on a highly combustible couch.
The Fire Service was called at 7.47pm and arrived six minutes later.
By then, the fire was leaping out the doors and windows.
Senior firefighter Kate Hill yesterday said it took just seconds for the flame to leap to the curtains and then to the walls and ceiling.
"People might be surprised to know the typical synthetic couch contains the equivalent of 30 litres of petrol.
It is highly flammable and when it goes, it goes fast."
Firefighters will show visitors to the fire-ravaged "open home" where the fire ripped through the internal ducting system and where it stopped at closed doors.
Aluminum windows twisted by 600degC flames, blackened crockery, and the pervasive smell of charred wood would show how much damage fire could cause.
"Everything can change, literally in seconds.
"We hope that having an open home can help prevent a fire like this happening to other families in our community."
Dunedin's first fire open home since 2008 will be held from 10am to 2pm this Saturday.
