Fears of a health worker exodus as Kiwis are tempted across the ditch, more details emerge on the Government’s youth boot camps and how much ignoring your Kiwisaver could be costing you in the latest NZ Herald headlines.
Video / NZ Herald
The blaze was reported to Fenz shortly before 10pm on February 27, on New Brighton Rd, opposite The Palms shopping centre in the suburb of Shirley.
Fenz’s investigation into the cause of the fire which was completed on Wednesday, determined the fire was accidentally caused after an e-scooter that was charging went into thermal runaway and exploded.
Thermal runaway is an uncontrollable increase in temperature, which often results in system failure. It often occurs in electrical circuits, chemical reactions and battery cells.
Both levels of the property were extensively damaged, with all household items reduced to charred remains. Photo / Pierre Nixon
Fenz said in a statement that it was reminding the public it is important to take care when using these batteries as they are a fire risk when not stored, charged, used, or disposed of correctly.
“Only use chargers that are supplied with the device, don’t charge them on or near flammable surfaces, and avoid leaving lithium-ion batteries or devices charging for prolonged periods of time,” the statement said, referring to further lithium-ion battery safety information which can be found here.
A neighbour two doors down from the property earlier told the Herald he heard a large boom and what sounded like an earthquake.
“My partner said, ‘It’s an earthquake, it’s an earthquake,’ and we could definitely smell the smoke,” he said.
“It was a violent fire and was moving very quickly.”
The man said when he noticed it was a fire, his partner tried to collect valuables, including her passport.
“We evacuated as soon as we could.
“The fire brigade was here very quickly, and so was St John.”
Fire crews battled the "well-involved" fire at an apartment in the Christchurch suburb of Shirley. Photo / George Heard
The man told the Herald a young child was rescued from the top of the property’s window and he thought it might have been one of the parents and a bystander who saved the child from the blaze.
“Whoever it was, they are a hero, as they couldn’t go down because the fire was raging,” he said.
The neighbour said he didn’t know the residents who lived in the property as they had moved in recently.
Hato Hone St John earlier said it was advised of the fire at 9.54pm and dispatched two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an operations manager to the scene.
A neighbour said a young child was rescued from the top of the property’s window. Photo / George Heard
It treated three patients, one with serious injuries and two with moderate injuries.
Another witness, who asked not to be named, earlier told the Herald they heard a loud bang before plumes of smoke erupted from the apartment block.
