PORT HILLS FIRES MIRACLE 'I LOST EVERYTHING EXCEPT MY ANIMALS'

An adrenaline-filled dash to get her furry friends to safety was the only thing on Anna's mind

Twisted metal and blackened debris are all that is left of Anna Spark's container home and possessions, which were razed during the fierce Valentine's Day fire that whipped through her family's property on Christchurch's Port Hills.

Despite losing everything in the devastating blaze, Anna says she still has plenty to be grateful for, thanks to a successful mercy dash to save her beloved animals.

"I definitely have a lot of grief to work through after losing all my stuff. However, everyone and everything on the hill with a beating heart that matters to me are still alive. What more could you want than that?"

Anna, 36, was at work as a security guard in the beachside suburb of New Brighton when she got a mid-afternoon call from her mum, who was on the rooftop carpark at Westfield Riccarton. She told Anna she could see flames taking hold on the hills near Anna's grandad's place, where she rented her container.

"Mum had spoken to Grandad and he was already being told to evacuate. I knew I had to get up there straight away to save my animals." As she rushed home, her phone beeped with an emergency evacuation alert, saying all residents must leave immediately.

"My heart dropped as I knew the fire could already be on our property. I was pretty panicked about my three dogs, cat, goat and my late grandmother's alpacas. I knew I might face arrest for going onto the property, but I had to risk it to try and save them."