A large fire at a gas firm in Hillside Rd, Dunedin, early this morning had been an unexpected "curve ball" but business would continue as usual, and the 20 jobs involved were safe.
GasCo & Pipeline managing director Stefan Rosborough, of Christchurch, said the firm installed and serviced gas tanks and piping, and also undertook other gas-related fitting work, including for low-pressure domestic use, and in medical gas applications.
The firm was not involved in storing or supplying gas, and the only gas at the Hillside Rd premises was a small bottle used for fuelling a barbecue, Mr Rosborough.
A gas tank outside the firm's premises, pictured in a video which had been shown online, was, in fact, an empty gas tank which had been brought in by a client for servicing and upgrading.
The tank would be returned to the client once the work was completed, he said.
Mr Rosborough is based in Christchurch, where eight of the firm's staff are also based.
About six of the Dunedin staff were office workers, and many of the other staff who were involved in gas tank, piping and installation and fitting work worked from their vans, which they kept at their homes, and those operations were unaffected by the fire.
The fire was a "hiccup" and business would continue normally.
The firm's office had received some water damage, but many of the items inside the building, including stock, had been saved and were undamaged.
Computer records were unaffected.
Part of the building had been damaged by fire, and he was already looking for other suitable Dunedin premises, but it was hoped to return to the Hillside Rd site at a later stage, he said.
