Birthday celebrations got out of hand when two teenagers allegedly attempted to set fire to a property’s kitchen on Thursday.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said police were called to a smoke-logged property in Helensburgh Rd, Halfway Bush at 8.20pm.
Two teenagers, a 16-year-old female and an 18-year-old male, were celebrating his birthday by trying to set the property’s kitchen on fire, Snr Sgt Bond said.
He said the pair put pizza boxes and books on top of the stove and turned it on to set fire to the flat.
They then fled, but were located by police a short time later and arrested, he said.
Both would appear in Dunedin District Court charged with willfully setting a fire and endangering life.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said crews from the Roslyn and Dunedin stations were called to the smoke-filled flat.
The fire did not catch and crews ventilated the property.
A scene guard was in place yesterday and a fire investigator visited the property.
