One hurt after car fire
Blaze outside clinic being treated as suspicious
Fire investigators were called in after a car went up in flames in Castlecliff yesterday. One man was taken to hospital and the fire spread to a neighbouring patch of grass. Fire and emergency were alerted to the fire in the carpark of Cliff Dental at 10.40am and were supported by police for traffic management.
St John said the patient was taken to hospital in a moderate condition, suffering smoke inhalation as a result of the blaze. He was later discharged.
Witnesses said the vehicle, which was parked outside the building, began smoking under the bonnet.
The vehicle soon became engulfed, sparking another fire in a small patch of grass next door.
Sarah Stockman, a staff member at the practice said that she rushed out to move a patient’s car parked next to the flaming vehicle.
“I looked to the right and saw the fire and tried to figure out the push start quite quickly,” Stockman said.
Whanganui senior station officer Jes Sorenson said the fire was being treated as suspicious.
“We’ll get the investigator down to look at what happened,” Sorensen said.
Both fires were brought under control by 11am.