Offers of support flood in for those affected by Waipawa Four Square fire
Even before the embers had cooled down amongst the rubble of what once was the Waipawa Four Square, the Central Hawke's Bay District community had already begun to rally around those affected.
The fire, which tore through the supermarket on High Street, alongside State Highway 2, at 4.30am on Sunday morning, is believed to have begun in the bakery kitchen, Fire and Emergency New Zealand Hawke's Bay Assistant Area Commander Glen Varcoe said.
While the exact cause is yet to be released by the specialist fire investigator, it is not being treated as suspicious. Mr Varcoe said bakery employees were inside the store at the time of the fire and not only alerted emergency services to the incident but were able to provide brief information to the first responders as to where the fire had started.
At its height, the fire was raised to third alarm level with eight fire tankers, three support vehicles in attendance, along with four tankers to supplement the town's water supply team, which helped extinguish the supermarket fire.
While the fire was contained within a few hours, two crews and a digger completed overhaul of the site, dampening any hotspots, by 4.30pm, at which time council and the property owners took back control.
Mr Varcoe acknowledged the brigades who were able to contain the fire to the one building. "If the fire had got through the firewalls, at least four to five other buildings would have been affected. It certainly could have been a lot worse.”
Childcare centre Lulu and Max, which was in the same building, only suffered heat and water damage. While they won't be able to operate out of the building, Mr Varcoe said a lot of their resources and equipment that they had back in the building are able to be salvageable.
"They did an amazing job to cut the fire off because that was within the same structure."
Mr Varcoe said it was inspiring to see the community support each other so quickly after the tragedy. "It's great to see the community right at the offset provide wrap-around support to all those affected including the firefighters and owners of Four Square."
"In a town like Waipawa, losing a building like that has a bigger impact than say if it was a similar building in one of the bigger city centres."
In the 48 hours since the inferno ripped out the "heart of the community" offers of support have flooded in. Mayor Alex Walker said: "It has been so heartwarming to see all the incredible offers and initiatives from the community to support not only the affected employees of Four Square but also to assist their customers in the community."
"What incredible people we have in Central Hawke’s Bay." She said lots of local Waipawa Businesses have stepped up and are supplying a range of local products, and encouraged residents to check out their local websites and Facebook pages to find out more.
Both New World and Countdown Supermarkets have online shopping and delivery available to Waipawa and surrounds. "If you are in urgent need for groceries we encourage you to reach out to a trusted friend, neighbour or family member for support in these initial days. Tomorrow we expect to be able to provide further specific details on how you can access grocery options," council said.
The Waipawa Butchery has started stocking potatoes, kumara, carrots and onions in an attempt to help fill some of the gap left by the destruction of the town's only supermarket. They will also deliver free of charge to any elderly living in Waipawa town with their van and mobile eftpos machines.
"Community is about coming together and helping each other in times of adversity," the butchery said.
The Waipawa Fish Supply planned to stock extra milk and bread and Viv’s Taxi Service would be also be offering a return shuttle service on Wednesday, June 2, to Waipukurau at 11am.
Mayor Walker said council had been working "hard today" with the building owner to secure the site.
Mr Varcoe says a Waipukurau firefighter, who was part of the "initial fire attack trying to control the fire from within the building," suffered burns to the back of his shoulder.
"Once they deemed we weren't able to contain the fire from an internal attack, the officer removed all the personnel from inside the building and did an external fire attack," Mr Varcoe said. The firefighter was transported to Hawke's Bay Hospital where he was treated and then discharged early yesterday afternoon.
"His burns weren't as serious as first thought which is good and he's in good spirits and has been offered all the support and help from his local brigade and the community." However, they were awaiting another assessment of his burns.
