House ‘unliveable’ after craft work starts fire in bedroom

Firefighters were called to a house in Russell Street near Ballance Street late yesterday morning after a fire started in a bedroom of the home. They said it started while the resident was using a naked flame to do some craft work. Story page 3Picture by Liam Clayton

A naked flame has been put down as the cause of a fire in the bedroom of a house in Russell Street late yesterday morning.

Firefighters were able to deal with the blaze before it spread to involve much more of the home.

A 111 call came in to Fire and Emergency NZ around 11.45am yesterday, to a property near Ballance Street in Whataupoko.

“The person in the house had been doing some craft work with a naked flame in the bedroom, and it got away on them,” a senior firefighter said.

“Once we gained access the fire was dealt with quickly using breathing apparatus and a low pressure delivery.

“Fire damage was confined to the bedroom, which was extensively damaged, and to part of the hallway.”

There was also extensive smoke damage to the rest of the dwelling.

“The sole occupant of the house got out of the building without injury,” he said.

“The house would be unliveable, and will require serious repairs.”

The senior firefighter said the incident illustrated the care that must be taken with naked flames —  “particularly around any combustibles”.

■ At around 1.15pm yesterday firefighters were called to Paraone Road in Kaiti after a power plinth box alongside the footpath caught fire. The crew dealt with it with CO2 fire extinguishers.