A Twizel restaurant was badly damaged by fire yesterday, despite the efforts of about 35 firefighters.
Firefighters with six appliances from Kurow, Otematata, Omarama, Tekapo and Fairlie went to help the Twizel Fire Brigade after the call to Pukaki Gardens Korean Restaurant in Mackenzie Dr about 12.30pm.
By the time the first appliance arrived, the fire had spread into the roof and it took about four hours to bring it under control.
Twizel firefighters expected to be at the scene most of last night dampening remaining hot spots so it did not reignite.
That fear was aggravated by wind which picked up late yesterday after firefighters had fought the blaze in virtually calm weather.
The restaurant was in among the High Country Lodge and Backpackers accommodation units and firefighters were pleased to have stopped it spreading.
Owners of the lodge, Chris and Christine James, have the restaurant next to their accommodation and both were originally part of workers' accommodation for the construction of the upper Waitaki power scheme.
The restaurant building is owned separately and leased to the restaurant operator, who was understood to be away from the premises at the time of the fire.
Mrs James said they received a phone call telling them smoke was coming from under the eaves of the restaurant and Mr James and another person went to investigate, not expecting to be confronted by a fire.
''It's about the same time they [staff] light the fire for customers,'' she said.
When the pair arrived, they found the building on fire.
They went and got fire extinguishers but the fire spread rapidly.
They then realised they should move the gas bottles away from the building.
By the time the brigade arrived, the building was well alight.
Staff had got out of the restaurant and no-one was hurt, Mrs James said.
