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A UK couple have ‘lost everything’ after the vehicle they lived in caught fire at a Marlborough campsite.
Emergency services responded to the fire at the Wairau Diversion, north of Blenheim, around 8:30 p.m. Monday after noticing smoke during a training session in the nearby river.
At the same time, the couple, who want to remain anonymous, were a few meters away having dinner with other campers when they noticed smoke coming from their vehicle.
“We ran, but within 30 seconds it was on fire,” the man said.
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A couple traveling through New Zealand in a self-converted motorhome “lost everything” after their first night on the South Island.
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They thanked the Rarangi Voluntary Fire Brigade for trying to save their caravan, “but it was too late … We don’t have much left.”
The couple had been living in New Zealand since February last year, but moved to the autonomous minibus about five months ago. They converted the vehicle themselves.
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The vehicle caught fire completely in less than 30 seconds, witnesses say.
The fire occurred on its first night on the South Island at a freedom camp run by the Marlborough District Council.
A council spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon the council believed a camp gas cylinder had exploded.
“[The] The council will work with stakeholders and insurers to carry out [the] removal of the truck, ”he said.
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Firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire Tuesday morning.
New Zealand Fire & Emergency Lead Fire Investigator John Foley said Tuesday morning that a firefighter would visit the vehicle to determine the cause of the fire. But the outcome depended on how much damage the vehicle had suffered.
Other fun campers recounted their surprise at the fire.
Ashleigh Gibson of Northland and Max Cumpstone of Waikato had just settled in for their first night of camping at Wairau Diversion when the neighboring van “blew up.”
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Campers comfort the UK couple.
“We did not hear or smell anything to indicate it was on fire.”
The couple tried to draw water from the Wairau River to control the fire, but said the vehicle was too far away by then.
Others threw water on the grass to stop the fire from spreading.
German tourists the couple were dining with, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the flames spread quickly.
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What remains of the couple’s “home away from home”.
“It felt like it was over in the space of a couple of minutes.”
Michel Nebel and Rahel Haener, who came from Queenstown, were unaware of the fire until they heard a loud explosion.
“We poked our heads in to see what had happened and saw that the truck was engulfed in flames … It didn’t burn for long. It was over in about five or ten minutes, tops. It was frightening.”
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Queenstown residents Michel Nebel, leading, and Rahel Haener heard the blast before seeing the fire.
A woman close to Auckland, who also wanted to remain anonymous, did not dare to look at the remains.
“I feel so bad for them. You couldn’t even smell the smoke. “
Marlborough woman Janelle White was collecting donations for the couple, asking if a local could help the UK couple who had “lost everything.” He said Tuesday that he had already received an “incredible response.”
The community had donated enough clothing, bedding and hygiene products to replace those that had been destroyed, but White said she was still looking for camping gear.
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The fire occurred at a Marlborough District Council camp on the outskirts of Blenheim.
Police said they did not respond to the fire.
Wairau Diversion was one of five county-run freedom camps. The council was considering improving the design of the site to improve its health and safety.
The site could house up to 75 Freedom camping vehicles.
To donate to the couple, call White on 027 618 7480.
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A GoPro was one of the few items that survived the fire.
