A Dunedin accounting firm is grateful for two passersby who alerted them to a fire in their building.
Firefighters could be seen working to extinguish a fire as smoke spilled from the High St side of the Moore Markhams Otago premises on Clark St about 5.50pm.
A group of accountants who had been inside the building said they were extremely grateful for the two "lovely young women" who had been passing by and alerted them to the fire inside the premises, which they would not have otherwise been aware of.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said the fire was reported about 5.40pm and four appliances were initially dispatched.
Firefighters discovered a small fire and extinguished it.
An aerial appliance used to check the roof of the building, and salvage work was undertaken in the building’s basement due to water dripping through the floor.
A fire investigator was being called for but the fire had not been tagged as suspicious, the spokesman said.
High and Clark Sts were closed while emergency services worked.