'We had to get out': Apartment units engulfed in fire
A man has been charged following a late-night fire at a Rotorua apartment complex.
Residents escaped the residential block of apartments on Fenton St when an alarm sounded shortly before midnight on Friday.
The apartments, on the corner near Carnot St in Glenholme, have long-term tenants.
A police spokesman said all residents and neighbouring occupants were safely evacuated and no one was injured.
The spokesman said at least two of the units were engulfed by fire.
He said a 29-year-old man was arrested and charged with wilfully setting fire to property and endangering life.
He made a brief appearance in the Rotorua District Court on Saturday morning and was remanded to reappear on September 11.
Police confirmed they were not looking for anyone else.
Debris from an apartment fire dropped onto the Fenton St footpath. Photo / Kelly Makiha
The fire caused debris from the apartments to drop onto the nearby footpath.
A couple who live at the apartments told the Rotorua Daily Post they appreciated how quickly emergency services arrived.
The woman said she was asleep when her partner came in telling her they needed to get out.
“We heard the alarm sound and some smoke coming out of the room … I was fast asleep and my husband was watching a movie. All of a sudden we had to get out and when we did the police were already there.”
The man said they were moved to the Novotel Rotorua for the rest of the night and their landlord made arrangements yesterday for alternative accommodation at neighbouring Park Central Rotorua, formerly Four Canoes Hotel.
A man has been charged following a fire at a Fenton St apartment. Photo / Kelly Makiha
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said the apartment, which was about 30m by 8m, was well involved in fire when they arrived about midnight.
Five fire trucks and firefighters were called to battle the blaze – including two from Rotorua, two from Ngongotahā and one from Mamaku.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
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