Firefighters save second house from flames after house consumed by fire in Wairoa

A serious fire in Wairoa consumed a house on Lion St and left several people with smoke inhalation. Photo / Jack Ward Wairoa Star

Firefighters arrived in the nick of time to save a second house from going up in flames after a Wairoa home ignited overnight.

Several people were treated for smoke inhalation after a blaze at a property on Lion St, between McLean St and Kopu Rd, shortly before 1am.

Senior Station Officer Philip Jane said the fire had enveloped the house and was threatening the neighbours’ house when firefighters arrived and managed to protect it from catching.

“We were very lucky with the neighbours’ house. There were about six or eight windows that were broken through the heat and window frames were very, very scorched,” Jane said.

“It was almost ready to catch alight I would say and we caught it in time. The side of the house is very badly blistered.”

He said the house in which the fire started was severely damaged, while a shed in the backyard and two cars in the driveway were also badly burnt.

“The roof caved in, it is still standing, but it is absolutely gutted,” he said.

“It was pretty hot and pretty fierce.”

He said the fire was still being investigated, but he believes it could have started in the kitchen area.

A police spokesman said the fire did not appear to be suspicious.

Jane said some people in the house needed to be treated for smoke inhalation, while one firefighter was checked for exhaustion.

“He didn’t get transported, he was absolutely fine, he just needed to get his breath back really. He wasn’t affected by the fire as such, just running hoses.”

A St John spokesman said four people were transported to Wairoa Hospital, two in a minor condition and two in a moderate condition.

A Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay spokeswoman said one woman in her early 50s and three men, one in his late 40s and two in their early 20s, were brought to Wairoa Hospital Emergency Department about 1.30am and are being discharged.

Central fire communications shift manager, Murray Dunbar, said three fire trucks and 12 firefighters responded to the blaze.

The blaze was brought under control in about 45 minutes and crews left the scene shortly after 4am.