Went to work, left pot on stove

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

Firefighters were called to a smoke-logged flat on a property in Ballance Street on Tuesday after a pot of food had been left heating up on the stove. The incident was called in around mid-morning.

“The resident in the upper storey of the building heard smoke alarms going off in the downstairs flat and went to investigate,” a senior firefighter said. “The neighbour removed the pot of food outside.”

The fire crew ventilated the flat to clear away the smoke that had built up inside.

“There was no damage caused, but it’s a timely reminder to keep looking while you are cooking.

“The resident in the downstairs flat had gone to work and left the stove on,” the firefighter said.

“It’s another demonstration of how effective working smoke alarms are.”