“It’s certainly not something we’d see regularly,” Cotter said.
A Hato Hone St John spokesman said they were notified of a fire incident in Hāwera at 5.51am.
“Two helicopters and two ambulances responded.
“One patient is currently being airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.”
Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Belinda Beets said fire crews were called to the fire about 5.47am.
“One person suffered minor burns to their legs and arms, and smoke inhalation.”
Beets said fire crews were still at the scene mid-morning on Thursday.
Fire and Emergency Taranaki assistant commander Clive Lennox said it was “an incident in the rear of the house”.
Two fire engines from Hāwera and an operational support unit, with about 12 firefighters in total, were at the property.
Cotter said people should get any problems with gas appliances checked by a gas fitter.
It was also possible to check for a gas leak by using soapy water around connections for gas cylinders or appliances, he said.
“If you spray a little bit of dishwashing liquid mixed with water on to a connection, if it bubbles then you have a gas leak.”
Households with working smoke alarms had a far better chance of being alerted in a fire, he said.
Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.
