Southern fire crews have been kept busy of late, attending to several structure fires over the last two months, all of which a Southern fire investigator says could have been preventable.

Fire and Emergency NZ Fire Risk Management Officer for South Otago and Eastern Southland Scott Lanauze is now urging Southlanders to stay safe and remember to take fire safety measures at home. 

“We are concerned about the instances of structure fires occurring throughout the region recently, as each of these fires are avoidable.”

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“Whilst we [fire investigators] predominantly investigate fires to determine cause and classification, we also provide comfort and reassurance to people who have lost their homes and their valuables. Sometimes, people have lost their lives.”

He said the risk of fires could be minimised and the number of fires could be reduced by people doing things like checking plugs were not overloaded, keeping chimneys clean and not leaving cooking unattended.

“In the unfortunate case of fire occurring, the fundamental elements of home fire safety apply: working smoke alarms, escape plans and safe meeting places,” he said.

Meanwhile, police are no longer treating a Gore house fire last week as suspicious.

Nobody was in the Hokonui Dr house when emergency services attended the blaze about 2am on September 15. 

A police spokesperson said today that the investigation is ongoing and is not being treated as suspicious. No arrests have been made.

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Cannabis charges have been laid in the Invercargill District Court in relation to an Invercargill house fire on September 9.

Two people were badly burned, and a family member began a Give A Little campaign to raise funds to support them. 

The court hearing begins today (Tuesday September 22).

Meanwhile, a fire at Ascot Care Home, on Racecourse Rd, Glengarry last Thursday morning (September 17) began in a cupboard in the lounge area and led to the building become severely smoke logged.

Four people were taken to Southland hospital in a moderate condition and three people were treated at the scene with minor injuries. 

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the fire was already extinguished when fire crews arrived so helped to clear the smoke from the building.

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The Mossburn Diner was also recently destroyed after it was engulfed in flames on July 31.

Fire crews from Mossburn, Lumsden, Balfour, Dipton and Riversdale raced to the scene, with some in attendance within five minutes.

However the beloved town diner was long past saving as the fire was “well involved” by the time crews arrived. 

The cause of the fire is still undetermined, but it’s believed it could have been started by a tablet.