Outram couple Andrew and Shirley Smith are thankful they live in a such a community-minded town after locals banded together to help them save their home yesterday.
Mrs Smith had just arrived back from dropping her younger daughter at school and her husband at work when she sat down with her 18-year-old daughter in the lounge of their Bidston St home about 8.30am yesterday.
Seconds later, Jackie Hyslop, who lives around the corner and had spotted the fire when she was out walking, banged on the window and yelled that their house was on fire and they should get out.
Mrs Smith looked out the back of the house and, seeing flames coming in the door and windows, told her daughter to get out, grabbed the phone and dialled 111.
"We hadn't seen it then, but Jackie was awesome, a tower of strength."
The fire brigade arrived minutes later and put out the fire, which appeared to have started in some rubbish on the back porch and had already extensively damaged the back of the house.
"They told us two minutes more and we wouldn't have had a house."
Mrs Smith was treated at Dunedin Hospital for smoke inhalation after she went back into the house to rescue the family's blind pet dog Jack.
Last night, she said she was grateful to everyone who had helped the family.
"I just want to thank everybody for all the help. People who didn't even know us stopped and helped move cars and things. It was absolutely fantastic. The fire brigade has been brilliant and Jackie Hyslop was awesome."
The exterior of the house, including the back door and kitchen windows, was extensively damaged, much of the wiring melted and the floors were flooded, but the family hoped to be able to continue living in it, Mrs Smith said.
The house was insured.
