Two badly burnt after accelerant thrown on bonfire at Kotuku near Lake Brunner

A 52-year-old man and a woman in her late 50s were badly burned after someone apparently threw fat or oil on to a bonfire at Kotuku on Saturday night. Photo / Craig, Flickr

By Brendon McMahon

Two people were badly burned by a bonfire at Kotuku on Saturday night.

A 52-year-old man and a woman in her late 50s were burned after the fire blew up when someone apparently threw fat or oil on to the fire about 10.30pm.

Both burns victims were evacuated to Christchurch Hospital.

Moana Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Kevin Klempel said there was a large gathering of people at the private property where the incident occurred.

The flare-up appeared to have happened when someone threw an accelerant, possibly fat, on to the fire.

"Two of them were rather seriously burned," Klempel said.

St John acting territory manager Emma Kay said both victims received "moderate" injuries with burns to their bodies after a canister of oil blew up.

The nearby historic bungalow at Kotuku. Photo / Wikimedia Commons

A St John paramedic was flown to the scene by the NZCC West Coast Rescue Helicopter, but due to fog the victims had to be transported back to Grey Base Hospital by road before being transferred to Christchurch.

A hospital spokesman described their condition as comfortable.

- Greymouth Star