Man hospitalised following Nelson house fire

Friday, 24 July 2020

A Nelson man has been taken to hospital with smoke inhalation following a house fire overnight.

Emergency services were called to the blaze on Konini St, just after 9.30pm on Thursday.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Andrew Norris said the house was well involved in fire when two crews from Nelson arrived.

A further two crews from Nelson and Stoke were sent to help battle the blaze shortly after.

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Norris said the fire, which was thought to have started in the kitchen, had extensively damaged the house.

Crews had the blaze extinguished about an hour later.

A man, who was home at the time of the blaze, received smoke inhalation and was taken to Nelson Hospital.

Norris said there were multiple tenants living at the property, however there was only one person home at the time of the fire.

A St John spokesperson confirmed an ambulance was sent to the scene and the man with smoke inhalation was in a moderate condition

The fire was not being considered suspicious, Norris said.

A Stuff photographer, who was at the scene of the blaze, ​said the house was suspected to have asbestos inside.

Norris said there were no working smoke alarms in the house. The incident was a good reminder of the need to have them installed and check they were in working order.

“Also, keep looking when you’re cooking – this appeared to be a case of someone cooking but hadn’t been watching it.”