Staff quick to douse fire

A bed is charred and surrounding walls smoke damaged after a fire broke out in a room at Black Barn Retreats in Havelock North yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

A fire in a lodge at Black Barn Retreats, Havelock North, yesterday damaged furniture and left a room smoke damaged.

The Hastings Fire Service was called just after midday but on arrival the fire was already out.

A Black Barn Vineyards spokeswoman said a small fire broke out but housekeeping staff were cleaning the retreat at the time and "were able to swiftly act and extinguish it".

Hastings Fire Service station officer Nicky Bates said the blaze was put out with extinguishers and buckets of water.

This particular room had a bed which folded up into a cavity in the wall when not in use.

Ms Bates said it appeared the fire was caused by a lamp that may have been caught or been switched on as the bed was folded away. The only damage was to the bed and surrounding walls as well as discoloured walls caused by smoke damage.

The fire service remained at the scene for about half an hour.

Black Barn luxury lodges and retreats start at $900 per night and can range up to $2000. Many have a minimum two-night stay.