Blaze prompts call to check alarms

Smoke billows from a garage fire in Hislop St, Pine Hill, yesterday morning. Photos: Peter McIntosh
Smoke billows from a garage fire in Hislop St, Pine Hill, yesterday morning. Photos: Peter McIntosh
A Dunedin firefighter is urging residents to make sure they have working smoke alarms in their garages after a Pine Hill garage fire nearly set a neighbouring house alight.

Willowbank Station Officer Jim Smith said five fire appliances and an incident support vehicle were called to Hislop St, in Pine Hill, about 10.30am yesterday and found the garage fire "fully involved".

Thick black smoke could be seen billowing out of it from across the city and there were multiple calls to Fire and Emergency NZ about it.

The shed contained a car, some gas bottles and jerry cans filled with petrol, among other items.

SO Smith said there was potential for the fire to spread to other parts of the property, including the house which was occupied at the time.

"There was also a sleepout nearby that was actually closer than the house, and a caravan that we protected.

"I’m pleased that the fire crews did a really good job of knocking it down so that it didn’t spread."

Rather than the occupants of the house alerting Fenz to the fire, it was a passerby who called it in.

A firefighter leaves after helping extinguish the blaze.
A firefighter leaves after helping extinguish the blaze.
"The people at the house didn’t know it was happening."

He said it highlighted the need for property owners to make sure they had working smoke alarms in their garages, as well as in their homes.

"It’s important to have working smoke alarms in your garage, to give an early warning of fire.

"Having an escape plan so you can get out quickly and safely is also important."

Fortunately, no-one was injured in the incident.

He said it was not yet known what started the fire.

It was not considered suspicious, but a fire investigator had been called to find the cause.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

 

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