I just had an extremely exciting ride into work

I just passed a house cnr of Clyde and Ilam when I thought that is a stinky BBQ at this time, and it looked slightly wrong. Stopping I jumped off my bike and approached, to see a man staging out calling out in distress. Seeing that it was probably a fire I began calling out (from behind the gate – you can see the height in the photo) is everyone out he said no, and began calling in distress again (In Korean). Smoke was now coming out of the front door in huge amounts. Another young woman came walking down the road and joined me at the gate and asked the same questions. The front gate was locked so I boosted the young woman beside me over (2m fence) and then jumped over myself. She went round the back and I again said to the me man “is everyone out?”, “Get them out, etc”. Probably with people inside, I crawled in the front door (Smoke was down to 1m, dense and black) and crawled to the kitchen to see flames going from the wall to ceiling (Flakes were falling from the ceiling). Still calling out “Get out, get out” looking for anyone. A plumber (read his top outside later) came in with a small fire extinguisher to put out the small fire beside me, as we both called for people to get out. From the other side of the kitchen, the young woman I let in earlier waved from the other entrance that the other two occupants had got out. I and the plumber exited, pretty quickly. Outside on the front lawn (Family of three, Father, Mother and Teenage daughter) were all out and safe, but obviously distressed. The woman of the house (still dressed in her once white dressing gown) had a pitiful hose attempting to water down the roof, I told them that fire was inside the roof and not to bother and just to get away to a safer distance. She was still in bare feet. Other neighbours and others began to come by (gumboots, warm clothes were placed on the family). The Fire service sirens, could be heard by now and I went out to meet them. I met them on the road and informed them that everyone was out, but the gate was locked and had to access the further along beside the garage. I waited around and took the photo, packed my cycle gear up again (I had dumped these at the entrance), and left. Both the young woman and myself did thank each other before I biked off and she continued walking to work.

And no I wasn’t late for work! I got here in time to assist in opening up.

Photo while standing outside, just after the fire crews got there