Arrest over fireworks blaze

A man has been arrested after fireworks shot from car windows triggered a blaze which threatened a family and their home. The man has been charged with intentional damage and will appear in the Christchurch District Court on November 13. Emergency services were called to a property on Newtons Rd, West Melton, about 7pm on Saturday after the hedge caught fire. People in two cars were seen shooting fireworks at each other out the windows before the fire broke out. Flames over 10 metres high could be seen burning above the pine trees at the front of the property - damaging several hedge rows, gardens and incinerating a ride-on lawnmower. The property owner, Rebecca Ashman, earlier told The Press, that if people kept being ‘‘careless’’ with fireworks someone was going to die. Ashman and her husband were out when their neighbour called them. They rushed home to find ‘‘everything on fire’’. Ashman’s husband was able to save their dog as flames crept towards his kennel.