The occupant of a small central Dunedin apartment destroyed by fire on Wednesday was lucky to get out without serious injury or worse, after trying to put out the fire, the Fire Service says.
A Fire Service investigator yesterday determined that the fire, which destroyed the apartment above a second-hand bookstore in a 140-year-old Princes St building, was started accidentally.
Investigator Stu Ide said he had spoken to the apartment's occupant, who was in the building when the fire started, the first firefighters on the scene, and witnesses on the street.
The exact cause could not be confirmed at this stage because the damage to the building, including a collapsed roof and significant damage to flooring, meant it was too risky for him to enter the area where the fire started - a kitchenette in a bedsit-type apartment on the top floor of the four-storey building, Mr Ide said.
"I've already fallen through the floor today."
Attempts by the Otago Daily Times to contact the man yesterday were unsuccessful, but Mr Ide said he had spoken to him and he was shocked and upset.
"He has lost quite a lot of stuff."
East Otago fire area commander Brendan Nally said the man was "absolutely lucky" to have escaped the fast-moving fire. He made it out of the building, but was later treated at Dunedin Hospital for singeing around his face, hair and eyebrows.
The man had apparently attempted to put the fire out, which was the wrong thing to do, Mr Nally said.
"The best thing people can do in a fire is get out and close the door as you go."
The apartment was not fitted with working smoke alarms.
The had not caused too much damage to the book store and there was some smoke damage in a neighbouring building.
The Fire Service investigation would take some time to complete, he said.
