NZ Police: Lower Hutt Evacuated from Inferno
Media Release
Part of a Lower Hutt residential street remains cordoned off today while Fire and Police investigators attempt to determine the cause of a large blaze that has destroyed or extensively damaged 6 addresses.
An unoccupied address under construction in
Cornwall Street was discovered well alight by a passing
Police patrol at about 1.30 am this morning.
Numerous
fire appliances struggled to contain the fire that was
fanned by strong and blusterous winds. Before the fire was
controlled 4 neighbouring addresses were extensively
damaged with others suffering smoke damage.
Detective
Sergeant Mike Sears of the Lower Hutt CIB said "This was an
incredibly dangerous situation. Emergency staff, assisted
by members of the public, did an outstanding job evacuating
all those exposed to risk despite the obvious risks to
their own safety. It is amazing that no-one was physically
harmed."
Given the extent of the damage it will take
some time before we are in a position to determine the
cause of the fire. At this stage we are simply not in a
position to say if it was deliberately lit or
not.
Despite this we urgently need to speak to anyone
who was in the area at the time, regardless of whether they
think they saw anything suspicious or not." Please call
the Lower Hutt Police on 5602600.
Please view the full
details of the alert online at:
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/21583.html
ENDS