An Auckland teenager has described the dramatic moment he helped rescue residents from a burning apartment in Ōtāhuhu overnight.
Firefighters were called to the blaze on Albert St just after midnight and rescued several people from the block of flats. All residents at the complex are safe.
Video showed rescuers helping residents down from their apartments by ladder.
“That’s what we train for, so it was all good,” a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said. (Source: 1News)
Fire and Emergency assistant commander Dave Hatton said the blaze was “significant”. He confirmed the scene was a Kāinga Ora apartment block “with many units”.
“We’ve had a fire in one of those units where people had to be rescued by some very good firefighting work.”
Teen describes helping rescue using trampoline
Resident Ve’a Ve’a told 1News that a fire alarm had gone off earlier in the week and that his brother was the one who first alerted him, last night, that it was a real fire.
Watch the full interview on TVNZ+
“As soon as I came down, we saw the fire go from medium, in about 20 seconds, it started going big.”
The 19-year-old said he then sprung into action with help from other residents.
A man came out onto the balcony and looked like he was going to go back inside before he hopped over to another balcony, slid down and escaped, he said.
“Someone from the other side, they must have seen some kids still up there. We had a trampoline over here, got some boys and took it over there.”
They used the trampoline to help people get down safely from the third floor before firefighters arrived, Ve’a said, adding they helped two people down. He then went up to the second floor to help people get down from the burning apartment.
“When they brought the ladder, I was up there by myself.
“I was actually scared. It was just too foggy in there and just hard to breathe.”
A ‘significant’ blaze – Fire and Emergency NZ
Asked about the size of the fire, Hatton said: “One apartment was fully involved in fire. It was a hot fire for the first firefighters entering in – but that’s what we train for, so it was all good.”
“People are our primary concern,” he added.
“It was an awesome effort from the firefighting crews, and it’s a credit to all of them.
“They were professional in the way they carried out their duties and it’s always good for the guys when they can complete these rescues and make sure people get out safely.”
Crews contained the fire overnight and were carrying out final checks early this morning.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said fire investigators were on the scene today.
“During the peak of the blaze 10 crews were in attendance, fire crews rescued several persons from a rear balcony.”
Kāinga Ora said it was “very concerned” to learn about the fire in the block of eight flats.
Counties Manukau regional director Angela Pearce said there were 56 flats in the complex without power and water, as a result of the fire and efforts to put it out.
“Thankfully no one was injured, but at this stage we have had to move six customers from their homes.
“We are arranging alternative accommodation for these customers while we assess the extent of the damage to their homes and organise any repair work that is necessary.”