Crews responding to Hamilton motel fire

Fire and Emergency responded to a fire at a Hamilton motel this morning. Photo / Michael Craig

One person and their pet budgie have been rescued by Fire and Emergency (FENZ) crews who responded to a fire at a motel in Hamilton East this morning.

Fenz was alerted to the fire in Hamilton Garden Motel in Grey St at 7.52am and responded with two trucks.

A spokesperson said the fire at “a motel premise” was out upon arrival. However, the building was full of smoke so the crews used ventilation gear.

“One person came out of the building ... who was handed over to ambulance,” the spokesperson said.

“A fire investigator is on-site to do a scene examination.”

Hato Hone St John was notified of the incident at 7.54am.

The fire happened at Hamilton Garden Motel in Grey St. Photo / Malisha Kumar

“We responded with two ambulances and one rapid response vehicle. One patient was treated and transported to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition,” a Hato Hone St John spokesperson said.

A resident at the motel said the fire broke out in the unit next to his, where a woman had been living with her pet budgie. They had been living there for a few years.

“I didn’t see flames and didn’t hear anything until the fire department came banging on the door.

“I think [the woman] had given [Fenz] my partner’s name to them to look after her budgie,” he said.

“I didn’t see anyone else outside when the fire crews were here. Everyone slept through, I think.”

A reporter who visited the scene just after 9am said there was no visible damage on the affected unit from the outside and the fire crews and ambulances were no longer present.