Matawhero house fire ‘a good save’

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

Firefighters were called to a home in Bloomfield Road at Matawhero at around midnight Saturday after the residents smelt smoke in the house.

The fire crews found a fire going in the ceiling void.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent two appliances and two water tankers to the scene.

“When we got there we found a small fire going in the ceiling space,” a senior firefighter said.

“There was a bit of damage caused getting to it, but when we did, it was put out quickly.

“It appears to have been started by an electrical fault,” he said.

“We feel it was a good save.”

At 4am on Sunday, FENZ was called out to the other end of Bloomfield Road where a car was on fire on the side of the road.

“It was fully involved when the crews arrived, and was burnt out,” the senior firefighter said.

“It appeared to have been abandoned.”