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Two home fires were extinguished after breaking out on the West Coast overnight.
A firefighter operates a fire truck (file photo). Source: Luke Appleby / 1 NEWS
A New Zealand Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the first house fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.
The spokesperson said they were notified around 2:30 am of the “heavily involved” fire at a property in Ross, south of Hokitika.
The fire had “extensively damaged” the home, they said.
Three fire trucks were called to the scene and one person was reported to be present. However, the spokesperson said that person “has not yet been located.”
Emergency services were then called for reports of another fire at an “abandoned” Westport property just before 5 a.m. today.
Four fire trucks were dispatched to the home on Queen St, which runs through the center of town.
The spokesperson said the property was found to be on fire and that the fire had burned the property “to the ground.”
There are currently no suggestions that this fire is related to the one in Ross, the spokesperson said.
A fire investigator is expected to be at both scenes later today to determine the cause of the fires.
Police are on-site at both sites. A scene guard has been posted until fire investigators arrive.
