Closed door credited with helping limit damage from fire at TDC office

Wednesday, 9 October 2019

A closed door and a rapid response from firefighters are being credited with limiting the damage caused by a fire on Tuesday evening in the Tasman District Council building at Richmond.

Council chief executive Janine Dowding said it was believed some faulty wiring in a light fitting caused the fire, which was contained in an upstairs office of the Queen St building.

Some cleaners were elsewhere in the building at the time and they evacuated immediately when the alarm system activated, Dowding said.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Andrew Norris said the alarm system also alerted firefighters at 7.12pm.

'They found the first floor smoke logged,' Norris said. 'A small fire was visible in a light fitting.'

Firefighters extinguished the blaze 'with no problems' and the area was ventilated.

Dowding said the closed door to the affected office helped contain the fire along with the quick response by firefighters.

'Absolutely,' she said. 'The damage could have been much greater.'

There was significant damage to parts of the affected office and pockets of water damage in other areas of the building as well as the smell of the fire.

The focus would be on making sure staff were looked after and ensuring there was no other faulty wiring, Dowding said.

Richmond firefighters were back in action at 9.05pm in response to a report of car hitting a house in Kardia Terrace, Richmond.

Norris said the car had reversed into the house. The stability of the property was checked and 'there were no issues there'.

St John spokeswoman Ngaire Jones said a person with minor injuries was treated at the scene. 

Earlier, at 8.15pm, Motueka firefighters responded to a report of a fire in the area of Umukuri Rd, Riwaka. They found a small bonfire that they extinguished, Norris said.