Man suffers serious burns in factory fire

A 30-year-old man has been flown to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital with serious burns after in an explosion at a fibreboard plant near Mataura in Southland.

Wallacetown man Blair Lindsay was working at the Dongwha Patinna plant about 5am on Saturday when he was struck by a fire-blast.

Mataura Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Neil Rogan told the Southland Times Mr Lindsay's workmates poured water on his burns until medical help arrived.

It is understood Mr Lindsay suffered serious burns to his hands, while his face was also believed to be burned.

He was taken by ambulance to Southland Hospital before being flown to Christchurch Hospital and then transferred to Middlemore's burns unit yesterday where a spokeswoman said he was in a stable condition.

Mr Lindsay's father Ian said his son was in "reasonably good spirits" despite his injuries.

Dongwha Patinna general manager Shaun Cawood said Mr Lindsay's injuries were believed to have been caused by a smouldering fire in wood dust inside a duct pipe which had blasted from a manhole at the side of the duct where he was standing.

The plant was closed following the fire but resumed operations later in the day.

The Department of Labour and fire safety officers are investigating the incident.

- NZPA