House fire third from hot ashes

The lesson we can learn from this is empty ashes in a metal can with a lid or pour water over them.

Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes residents are not getting the message to ensure hot ashes are disposed of properly.

Southern Region fire safety officer Stuart Ide said a fire that destroyed two properties in Aspen Gr in Queenstown on Sunday started after a male tenant left hot ashes on the deck of the house.

The man did not put a lid on the ashes and the swirling wind picked them up and led to the devastation of the properties, Ide said.

The tenant was ‘‘mortified’’ to see what destruction leaving the ashes outside had led to, he said.

The man had been in Queenstown with his son at the time of the fire and watched the fire engines go past, not realising they were going to his house.

A neighbouring house, where a mother and her six-year-old daughter lived, was also gutted.

‘‘At the end of the day, it’s accidental.’’

Ide said he was getting frustrated that he was sounding like a ‘‘broken record’’ with this the third fire in Queenstown and Central Otago in a matter of weeks caused by hot ashes.

On Tuesday hot ashes put inside a wheelie bin caused a fire at Clyde, destroying a shed. In an earlier callout to Galloway, ashes had been put in a metal container with no lid. The wind blew the ashes out of the can and these ignited the side of the building.

‘‘The lesson we can learn from this is empty ashes in a metal can with a lid or pour water over them,’’ he said. Ashes could take five days to die down.

On Friday another fire at the Arrowtown Mace Motel destroyed a unit. At this stage it was not know what caused the fire.

The tenant also lost most of their belongings.

Support for the victims of both fires had poured in on the Queenstown Trading Facebook page with offers of clothing and household items.

Salvation Army chaplain Andy Higgins said it would work with Jigsaw team leader Fiona Young in coordinating audited cash donations for the families.

Young said she had been contacted by over 60 people offering support.

‘‘It’s just amazing that the whole community has stepped up. It’s overwhelming,’’ Young said.

Donations could also be made via the Salvation Army store on Camp St from today .

A sealed donation bucket will be available for donations and electronic donations could also be made.