Latest news with #FireandEmergencyNZ
1News
a day ago
- 1News
Fourth person charged with manslaughter over Loafers Lodge fire
A fourth person has been charged with manslaughter over the Loafers Lodge fire that killed five people in Wellington in 2023. Three people were charged with manslaughter last week following a two-year investigation into whether the state of the building and the management and compliance of its fire safety systems contributed to the fatal outcome. Michael Wahrlich, Melvin Parun, Peter O'Sullivan, Kenneth Barnard and Liam Hockings died in the blaze that began shortly after midnight on May 16, 2023. A 72-year-old man is set to appear in Wellington District Court on Monday. Last week, two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman appeared in the Wellington District Court facing manslaughter charges. ADVERTISEMENT Detective Sergeant Olivia Meares said police allege all four were responsible for aspects of the building's fire safety systems. A 50-year-old man had previously been charged with murder in relation to deliberately lighting the fire. A trial is scheduled to start before the Wellington High Court on August 25. The fire broke out at the Loafers Lodge, in Newtown, early this morning. (Source: Breakfast) Police, Fire and Emergency NZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reminded those who owned or managed buildings, particularly buildings with sleeping accommodation, of their responsibility to ensure occupants were protected from fire. These included ensuring the necessary evacuation procedures were in place, with an approved evacuation scheme if it was a "relevant building", and ensuring the means of escape from fire were maintained. "Where applicable, ensure you understand the maintenance requirements for the specified systems outlined in your building's compliance schedule as required under the Building Act. Particularly those relating to the building emergency warning system or fire alarm." Those who owned a tenanted residential property should ensure fire safety obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 were met.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Woman, dog pulled from ‘Blood Bucket'
The skatebowl at the Mornington Skatepark, known as the "The Blood Bucket". Photos: Gregor Richardson Retrieved from skateboard bowl: One woman, one dog, one ball. Firefighters were called to the Mornington skatepark about 11.30am yesterday after a game of fetch went wrong leaving a woman and her dog stuck in a skatebowl known as "The Blood Bucket". Fished from the skatebowl by Dunedin firefighters in Mornington yesterday was Cassie (left) and her 8-year-old dog Ruby. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said the pair were rescued using a ladder — the firefighters did not jump down themselves to prevent more people also getting trapped inside. "Got her, and the dog, as well as the ball that was the main instigator to start with, out and sent them on their way," she said. The woman, named Cassie, said she became stuck in the skatebowl after her 8-year-old dog Ruby chased the ball into the hole while playing a game of fetch. Ruby with the ball that caused the chaos to unfold. She was unable to get herself and the dog out and made a call to firefighters who promptly showed up to fish them out. The bowl was slippery due to rain and covered in dirt, and was lined with broken glass at the bottom, making a running start out of the bowl very difficult.
1News
26-05-2025
- General
- 1News
Three injured in reported weekend explosion aboard ship in Bluff
Three crew members were injured, two seriously, after an explosion reportedly occurred aboard a ship berthed in Bluff over the weekend. The incident happened while the crew was working on a boiler in the ship's engine room at around 3.15am on Saturday. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission launched an investigation on Monday into the incident aboard Malta registered bulk carrier MV Olivia at South Port. "The reported circumstances were that three crew members onboard the MV Olivia were working on a boiler in the engine room," the release announcing the investigation read. "During this process, there was an explosion or flashback, causing injury to the three crew members. ADVERTISEMENT "The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating this 'serious marine casualty' as required under the International Maritime Organisation's Casualty Investigation Code." St John said it responded with one rapid response unit and two ambulances to the scene. "Our crews assessed and treated three patients, one in a moderate condition and two in a serious condition who were transported to Southland Hospital." Fire and Emergency NZ responded with two crews from Bluff and Invercargill. "There was a small fire, but it was out before Fire and Emergency NZ attended," a spokesperson said.
Otago Daily Times
11-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Fire at Dunedin restaurant property
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Fire and Emergency NZ crews were called to a fire at a building housing a Dunedin restaurant this morning. Black smoke could be seen in the area, but it was not yet known how much damage there was to Brazen Eating House in Filleul St. An Otago Daily Times photographer at the scene said smoke was coming from the second floor of the property and from a large industrial chimney. A Fenz spokesman said four appliances - two from Dunedin central and one each from Willowbank and one from Roslyn - initially attended about 8am, while a command unit arrived separately. The fire happened on the top floor of the two-storey building and Fenz were trying to keep it under control, he said. The premises have been home to various eating establishments over the years, including 95 Filleul and Bracken. It became Brazen Eating House, serving tapas-inspired international fusion food with a Kiwi twist, earlier this year.
NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Ageing fleet: Auckland fire truck held together by wire after quick-fix
The appliance was taken into the workshop for a permanent repair this morning, the spokesperson said. Relief vehicles are typically used by Fire and Emergency NZ to replace fire trucks that need a longer term repair. 'Our Auckland high reach aerial relief vehicle has been in the workshop for repair,' the spokesperson said. 'We expect to have this relief aerial appliance returned to the fire station for operational service this afternoon which will return Auckland to its normal number of high reach aerials.' Campbell said the repair was 'a bit of Kiwi ingenuity' from a mechanic who repaired the truck with number 8 wire, but showed the ongoing issue firefighters were facing with 'old and unreliable trucks'. Last night, the damaged fire truck responded to multiple jobs, but these were mostly alarm activations, he said. 'If the truck had been called out to the North Shore or South Auckland that wire could have broken and fallen off,' Campbell said. 'It would have meant the truck couldn't be used in a fire.' Two weeks ago, a pair of firefighters had to be rescued from a North Shore fire after their aerial unit malfunctioned while they were suspended in the air, battling huge flames and toxic smoke. Campbell said the truck involved in the North Shore fire had been put out of use until an investigation was carried out into the fault. 'We do have five new aerial trucks on the way but they're still potentially six-to-eight months away,' Campbell said. 'Even then that's only going to maintain our status quo, it's not going to help the long-term fleet.' There needed to be more relief trucks to allow mechanics to carry out the proper preventive maintenance on the current fleet, he said.
