Fire at Tokoroa flats not being treated as suspicious

A block of flats in Tokoroa caught fire this morning.

Emergency services were called to the incident on Pōhutukawa Drive around 10.25am.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand attended with five trucks and tankers.

“The fire... was well involved upon arrival of the first truck,” a spokesperson said.

The flames were extinguished around 10.50am with crews remaining on scene to dampen down hotspots until the last truck left around 1.50pm.

“An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the fire.”

Police were notified around the same time as Fire and Emergency.

“The fire is not being treated as suspicious,” police said.

“There doesn’t look to be any life-threatening injuries.”

Hato Hone St John was notified of the incident at 10.26am and responded with one ambulance, but assistance was not required, a spokesperson said.

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they lived in a unit further down the row and smelled “a bit of smoke” while having coffee.

Shortly after, a student from Tokoroa Forest View High School knocked on their door to tell them “to get out”.

They said they were relieved no one was hurt and together with the student went from door to door to make sure “everyone evacuated safely”.