Dozens of firefighters battle Kumara blaze

Forty-two firefighters from Hokitika to the Grey Valley were sent to Kumara. Photo: Greymouth Star
Forty-two firefighters from Hokitika to the Grey Valley were sent to Kumara. Photo: Greymouth Star
A West Coast resident lost her home in a devastating fire early yesterday which threatened to spread to the neighbouring service station.

The owner of the older wooden bungalow in Kumara - with a close boundary to the self-service McKeown fuel station and two doors away from the Theatre Royal Hotel - had been living away from the property for a couple of months, police said.

Forty-two firefighters from Hokitika to the Grey Valley were sent to Kumara.

By the time Fenz was called, the fire had already consumed the back of the house and was moving to the front, Greymouth fire chief Lee Swinburn said.

A big worry was the fuel station next door and the initial call to emergency services was of "an explosion".

"Initially, firefighting was concentrated on the petrol station next door - that was a concern."

Police cleared residents from the area because of concern about power-lines and the fuel station exploding.

Kumara fire chief Gary Lindbom said the brigade was first on the scene and had to battle low water pressure.

Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Watson, of Greymouth, said CIB investigators were on the scene yesterday morning and were working with the West Coast Fire and Emergency fire safety officer to establish the cause.

 - By Brendon McMahon 

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