Ashes set fire to a bin then a van

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

ASHES from a fireplace started a fire that badly damaged a van on a property at Wainui last night, 24 hours after they had been taken outside to cool down.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent an appliance and a tanker to the Lloyd George Road property at 10.15pm.

“The householder had removed the ashes from the fireplace the day before and taken them outside in a container to let them cool down,” a senior firefighter said.

“Then they were put into a plastic wheelie bin, left near a van parked on the property that was being refurbished.”

The ashes reignited in the bin and set fire to it, and the flames spread to the van.

“It was well alight when the fire crews arrived and was extensively damaged.

“It is another reminder that people need to be very careful about how they dispose of ashes from the fireplace.

“Ashes can take up to five days to cool down.”

In a second call last night, at 11.15pm, firefighters were called to Waimata Hill where a small truck was on fire. "It was well alight in the engine and driving compartment and was badly damaged. It appeared the vehicle had been abandoned.”