Sleepout fire in Sydenham, Christchurch deemed 'suspicious'

Wednesday, 24 July 2019

A person was taken to hospital with smoke-related injuries after a sleepout went up in flames in Christchurch. 

The blaze on Hargest Cres, Sydenham produced thick plumes of black smoke that could be seen from kilometres away.  

A police spokeswoman said the fire, which broke out about 1pm on Wednesday, was being treated as suspicious.

Four fire crews and a command unit attended. Firefighters extinguished the blaze about 1.30pm and the last fire engine left about 3.45pm.

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The fire appeared to have gutted the sleepout, but there was no obvious damage at the front of the house and  flames did not reach other properties.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokesman Darryl Ball said a person was treated by St John crews for smoke-related injuries. St John spokesman Gerard Campbell said an ambulance took a person to Christchurch Hospital with moderate injuries.

A fire investigator attended to determine the cause.