Fire crews, as well as police and ambulance services, attended road crashes yesterday in the Cromwell Gorge, and near Tarras, before some of the fire officers were then called to a fire in an orchard in Earnscleugh, near Clyde, at 4.51pm.
The fire burned mainly underground and had ignited from smouldering remains of a fire six months ago, Clyde Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Richard Davidson said.
The fire took more than two hours to put out and Clyde Fire Brigade members had only just returned to the station and completed duties there before being called to assist at a fire at Super Liquor in Cromwell, at 8.09pm.
The fire burned at the storeroom end of the building and there was significant smoke damage and some external damage, Cromwell Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Steve Shaw said. Four fire appliances attended and the fire took about 20 minutes to put out. It was not known how it began but a fire investigator would examine the scene, Mr Shaw said.
Golden Gate manager Glen Christiansen could not be reached for comment.
Mr Davidson said about nine of the Clyde officers had attended three of the four incidents during the day, but they were "holding up" well and although tired, were upbeat and positive.
"It’s just what happens sometimes."
All the Clyde fire officers — there are about 21 in the brigade, although about six are on leave out of the district — would be back on call again today, Mr Davidson said.
"You’re always on call, 24/7. You’re never not on call. We’ll be back in business in the morning."
Mr Shaw said various fire officers from other Central Otago brigades had also attended more than one of the incidents yesterday, as well as other callouts in the last few days, but they were also coping well.
