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Firefighters battling Motueka building blaze, people rescued from balcony

Author
NZ Herald ,
Publish Date
Fri, 24 Jun 2022, 9:43AM

Firefighters battling Motueka building blaze, people rescued from balcony

Author
NZ Herald ,
Publish Date
Fri, 24 Jun 2022, 9:43AM

One person has been injured in a fire at a Motueka building, with occupants having to be rescued from a balcony.

Firefighters arrived at the scene in Greenwood St at 8.25am, with reports people had been trapped on a balcony.

One person had suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Nelson Hospital, a St John ambulance spokesperson said.

Tasman District councillor David Ogilvie told the Herald from the scene that the blaze was "well advanced".

"It is a commercial building with a shop downstairs and flats upstairs," he said.

"The building has suffered a fair bit of damage. The police and fire service are both here ... there are two fire trucks.

"Police and fire are keeping us back [from the scene].

"But the fire looks reasonable well advanced . . . the damage goes through to the outside walls. But it is under control. There are ladders [from the fire crews] up to the second floor."

"The fire was reported about 8:25am. It is reported there are people currently trapped on a balcony," police said.

A later update said everyone inside the building had successfully escaped.

The fire was not thought to be suspicious and a Fire and Emergency investigator was heading the scene.

A witness said the fire was closing in around some flats and a Salvation Army store.

State Highway 60 is now closed at the intersection with Greenwood St.

Motorists are warned to expect delays and to use an alternative route.

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