Fire guts homes in Central Otago, Southland

Two houses have been destroyed and one badly damaged after fires in the South Island.

A Fire Service spokesman said blazes in Springvale in Central Otago and Hokonui in Southland gutted two homes.

Firefighters contained a fire in a Christchurch home but it was extensively smoke damaged.

The spokesman said the Hokonui fire broke out just before 8pm yesterday and crews from surrounding districts fought the blaze.

The house was occupied at the time but everyone escaped without injury.

The Springvale blaze broke out two hours later and crews from Alexandra, Clyde and Omakau and a council tanker from Dunstan were needed.

The unoccupied home was well alight when fire crews arrived and could not be saved.

The Christchurch fire, which broke out about 7.30pm yesterday, was confined to the laundry area.

No one was home at the Linwood property but smoke damaged the remainder of the single-storey house.

Fire safety officers would be returning to the Hokonui and Springvale properties this morning to determine the cause of the fires.

- NZ Herald