Woman burnt in Awapuni Road blaze

This house in Awapuni Road was extensively damaged by fire early Tuesday morning and a woman who lived in the home was taken to hospital with burns sustained when the fire started in the lounge. The cause is under investigation. Picture by Liam Clayton

A woman was taken to Gisborne Hospital suffering burns after fire extensively damaged her home at the city end of Awapuni Road in the early hours of Tuesday.

Fire and Emergency NZ and St John ambulance were called to the blaze at around 1.15am.

“There was smoke and flames coming out of multiple parts of the house when we arrived,” a senior firefighter said. “It was well involved in fire.”

The first fire crew to arrive went inside the house and made sure everyone was out safely, then started to tackle the fire, he said.

“The woman who lived there had got herself out of the house by the time we arrived.

“She had sustained some burns and was suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation, and was taken to hospital by ambulance.”

There has been no indication of the extent of her burn injuries.

At the time The Herald went to print last night, no update was available on the woman’s condition.

“The first crew did a really good job in knocking the fire back,” the senior firefighter said.

“They also put a ground monitor in place, spraying water down the side of the burning house to protect the neighbouring property.”

The senior firefighter said the female resident was in the lounge watching television when the fire started.

“It started somehow in the lounge room and spread from there to the rest of the dwelling.

“The interior of the home has been completely wrecked and there was severe fire damage to the roof rafters and joists.”

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

“Specialist fire investigator Derek Goodwin began an inquiry at the house yesterday morning. It’s not being treated as suspicious.”

Two fire appliances from the city fire station attended, along with a crew from the Manutuke volunteer brigade.