Firefighters dampen down a blaze which destroyed what was a two storey house at Kakanui earlier today. Photo by David Bruce.
Toxic and smoke and heat forced the would-be rescuers back. They then found out from another neighbour the couple and their two children had left today to go on holiday to Wellington.
The two-storey house was virtually destroyed by the fire, which four crews raced to after being called at 11.38am.
Units from Weston, Kakanui, Oamaru and and Waitaki Rural Fire fought the blaze, and crews are still there dampening down hot spots.
