Firefighters ask that owners of rural or hard-to-access properties be mindful of access for fire appliances in the event of an emergency after a large shed fire in Gisborne.
Firefighters ask that owners of rural or hard-to-access properties be mindful of access for fire appliances in the event of an emergency after a large shed fire in Gisborne.
A firefighter says a large shed fire in Gisborne serves as a reminder for owners of rural properties to be mindful of access in emergencies.
Firefighters responded to the incident on Dryden St, Whataupoko, about 1am on Thursday last week. The last crews left the scene about midday after dampeningdown hot spots.
“The fire was discovered by the owner being woken from a nearby accommodation unit by a smoke alarm activating inside the shed,” a Gisborne senior firefighter said.
The fire was reportedly already well involved at that point. Two pumping appliances and a water tanker from Gisborne, along with a 4WD tanker from the Eastland Fire Brigade, responded.
“Crews focused on protecting significant amounts of building materials and other structures that were exposed to the heat of the fire on arrival,” the firefighter said.
“Initially, crews utilised water from onsite water tanks until exhausted and then the Eastland tanker crew worked tirelessly throughout the night, ferrying water along the steep, muddy accessway to the incident, using the only appliance that could safely navigate the route at that time.”
The firefighter said Te Karaka Fire Brigade sent a crew to cover Gisborne station while the town crew was engaged with the fire.
The shed and its contents were destroyed by the fire. The owner had been storing goods to build a new house nearby, according to the firefighter.
As of Friday, a fire investigator had been called in.
“[This is] a good reminder if you live in rural or hard to access properties, to have your access maintained and enough room for fire appliances access,” the firefighter said.
He advised homeowners to go to the Fire and Emergency NZ website or call their local fire station for more information.
“Having good access can certainly help to achieve a better outcome for homeowners.”
Two pumping appliances and a water tanker from Gisborne, along with a 4WD tanker from the Eastland Fire Brigade, responded to the shed fire in Gisborne last week. Photo / Supplied
Gisborne firefighters also responded to a kitchen fire over the weekend, which left smoke damage throughout a home.
