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A maintenance worker was treated for smoke inhalation after the cooling unit he was working on caught fire on the top storey of a tower block in central Wellington today.
Wellington Chief Fire Officer Jon Graham told NZPA the fire was started somehow during the maintenance work, but he was not sure exactly what the cause was.
"It may have simply been a spark."
The fire, which began about 7.30am in the building at 79 Boulcott Street, drew a turnout of 12 fire appliances including an aerial tender.
Mr Graham said the maintenance team had fire extinguishers with them, but they were unable to control the flames.
Mr Graham said the fire crews had trouble getting to the blaze on the 13th floor of the building.
"That's why we needed so many appliances, so we could get the manpower."
The area where the fire started was part of the top floor, but was open to the air, which helped to fuel the flames, Mr Graham said.
Once the crews had reached the blaze, it was extinguished "pretty quickly", he said.
- NZPA
