Student flats 'uninhabitable' after blaze

Two student flats in Dunedin have been deemed ‘‘uninhabitable’’ following a blaze that witnesses say caused a hoard of household appliances to explode.

Crews responded to the fire in Harbour Tce, just off Dundas St, about 8pm on Saturday, arriving to find the property well ablaze, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokeswoman said. The fire was extinguished by 10.30pm.

Acting Senior Sergeant Iain Notman, of Dunedin, said the bottom floor of the three-story student flat went on fire.

It was initially reported that up to five people were trapped inside.

But firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and cleared the building, confirming that no-one was trapped and everyone was accounted for.

‘‘Extensive smoke damage to the bottom two flats was caused, which are now uninhabitable.’’

No injuries nor smoke inhalation were reported, Acting Snr Sgt Notman said.

Fire investigations were continuing and Dunedin police’s Criminal Investigation Branch was also involved.

University of Otago fourth-year student Te Koha Jansen, who lives across the road from the building, which he said was divided into three flats, called emergency services.

A ‘‘loud snapping cracking noise’’, which he initially thought was someone smashing bottles, alerted him to the fire.

‘‘I could see the [whiteware] exploding and setting alight. They were popping and the gas tanks were exploding and catching.’’

He brought chairs out from his home and made tea for the ‘‘rattled’’ people who had been inside the house, which had been quiet before the fire broke out.

Other students in the area had also noticed the whiteware, with one saying ‘‘they had like 10 trillion fridges and stuff’’.

Witnesses said the glow of the fire was visible from several blocks away and one described it as ‘‘pretty massive’’.

While it was initially feared there were people inside the property, a full search by firefighters found it was empty.

A police spokesman said a scene guard was in place while the fire investigator worked to determine the cause and whether the fire was suspicious.

Several people contacted the Otago Daily Times to say a person was seen riding an e-scooter into the house and doing ‘‘burnouts’’ inside before people began to flee the building.

One witness said they were having drinks there and someone brought a scooter into the house.

‘‘They started doing burnouts in the hallway.

‘‘The house first smelt of smoke from the tyres, then shortly after I was rushed out and people were saying there was a fire.’’

The police spokesman said no arrests had been made in connection to the incident.

The Fenz spokeswoman said there had been no mention of any kind of scooter reported and the cause was still under investigation.

She could not indicate where the fire started.

A University of Otago spokeswoman confirmed the occupants of the house were students and emergency accommodation had been arranged for those affected, with their meals being provided by one of the university’s colleges.

“The university is working with those students regarding special consideration for exams and has connected them with our student relief fund, Pūtea Tautoko,’’ she said.

Senior leaders were also offering direct support, she said.

It is unclear how many people were affected by the blaze.

felicity.dear@odt.co.nz