A person has been seriously injured as fire crews battled a large blaze near Timaru Hospital that sent thick black smoke billowing across the area.
Fire and Emergency NZ sent 10 crews - including four from Timaru, three from St Andrews, two from Temuka and one from the Washdyke station - to the blaze in a large shed in High St just before 9am today.
A spokesperson told RNZ the fire at the industrial premises was fully out by 3.45pm and the building handed back to its owner.
A police spokesperson said they were called to the scene just after 9am.
One person was seriously injured and taken to Christchurch Hospital by helicopter, RNZ reported.
A section of High St was closed and members of the public advised to avoid the area.
A nearby business owner, Ken Cox from Coxy's Panel Repairs, told RNZ the fire was huge.
"The flames were probably a couple of metres above the roof from what I could see."
A stack of 205-litre metal drums exploded and loud popping reverberated across the area, he said.
Nearby resident Stephie Margaret told Stuff the fire was out of control for about 15 minutes.
“It reached the stacks of metal drums which started exploding. It also burnt part of the building beside it.”
Video footage of the blaze showed flames and black smoke coming from the building.
- Star News and RNZ
