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A Christchurch bar was significantly damaged in a morning fire, prompting the evacuation of a nearby motel.
New Zealand Fire and Emergency spokesman Daniel Reilly said four teams responded to the fire at The Fitz Sports Bar, at the corner of Fitzgerald Ave and Cashel St, at 5 a.m. Friday.
The flames were clearly visible from the roof of the building when crews arrived, Reilly said.
The fire was contained at 6.30am. It’s too early to tell if he’s a suspect, he said.
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Steven Walton / Stuff
Emergency services entered the bar shortly before 8.30 am on Friday.
Most of the fire was near the kitchen area, but it was unclear how far it had spread, Reilly said.
The fire caused “significant damage.” A fire investigator and a team were on the scene at 9:30 a.m. Friday.
The C-Motel on Cashel St was evacuated by the police as a precaution.
Manager Raymond Sim said police woke him up around 5 a.m.
Steven Walton / Stuff
C-Motel manager Raymond Sim says about 29 guests had to leave the building around 5 a.m. as a precaution.
“When [the police] They were hitting, I thought I was a drunk [people],” he said.
“As soon as I got out, I opened the door, I could smell the smoke and feel the smoke all around.”
He could see flames on the roof and thought it looked like “a pretty big fire,” he said.
Sim said 29 people at the C-Motel went to a nearby motel until they were allowed to re-enter just before 8 a.m.
Two people in protective gear entered the bar shortly before 8.30 a.m. M.
Stuff
Four teams responded to the fire at the Fitz Sports Bar.
One man, who identified himself as one of the bar’s owners, declined to comment.
Fitzgerald Ave and Cashel St were initially closed, but both highways were fully reopened at 9:30 a.m., a spokesman for the Christchurch Transportation Operations Center said.
