Owner in mad dash to check on park guests
A Southland holiday park owner rushed around trying to account for more than 30 on-site guests while a large fire destroyed a building at the park early yesterday.
Lorneville Holiday Park co-owner Gary Tong was yesterday getting to grips with the fact fire had destroyed the well-known building, which consisted of a stand-alone woolshed connected to a lounge area for the park’s guests.
No-one was injured, with the nearest campers about 30m away from the burning building, he said.
After being alerted to the fire at 2.30am, Mr Tong said he ‘‘rushed around like a lunatic’’ making sure everyone at the park was accounted for.
He described the 1950s building as a ‘‘bit of an icon’’ on the LornevilleDacre highway. ‘‘It was a really nice old place.’’ The fire, which was not deemed suspicious, had flattened the building.
‘‘I don’t think it’s sunk in yet – it’s got to be rebuilt, ground up,’’ Mr Tong said. It was insured. Wallacetown fire chief Bill Mclachlan said the building was well alight by the time firefighters arrived.
Specialist fire investigator Michael Cahill said a truck driver had spotted the blaze from the road and alerted the holiday park residents.
The fire was not suspicious, Mr Cahill said.
Investigations into its cause were continuing.