Dishwasher fire sets off alarms

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

Firefighters were called to the Emerald Hotel just before midnight on Tuesday after a small fire started in a dishwasher in the kitchen, setting off fire alarms.

The fire crew found the dishwasher smoking when they got inside the hotel and located the source.

“The small fire was contained to the dishwasher,” a senior firefighter said.

“It had apparently not been used for a number of months.”

The fire crew isolated the power to the dishwasher and ventilated the immediate area.

The hotel was evacuated while firefighters dealt with the problem.