Occupant may have set fire to her home
A fire that gutted a central Christchurch flat was allegedly lit by the woman who lived there.
The front unit of the Barbadoes St property was ablaze when emergency services arrived about 8.25am yesterday, Fire Service southern communications shift manager Tim Reynolds said.
A woman was taken to Christchurch Hospital where she was treated for ‘‘very minor’’ smoke inhalation, police said.
Detective Sergeant Mike Freeman said the same woman was believed to have started the fire in her own home.
‘‘We’ve arrested the woman and she’ll appear in court [on Monday] on one charge of arson . . . She was the occupant of the address.’’
Barbadoes St between Bealey Ave and Purchas St was closed while firefighters worked at the scene. The fire was extinguished about 9am.
Neighbours reported hearing bangs before going outside and seeing the street filled with firefighters, police and ambulance staff.
One said it sounded ‘‘like a gas cylinder explosion’’.
Another said she thought the bang was someone slamming a door in the flat next door until she saw fire-truck lights flashing above her curtains.