Waihi Fire Service Callouts Include Suspicious House Fire Death

Posted by Gold FM on 22/08/2011

The Waihi Fire Service attended three callouts last week. On Tuesday night, the 16th of August they towed a man's vehicle back onto the road after his car left the road between Waihi and Whangamata. The driver was lucky and escaped without serious injury, although he may not be lucky enough to escape a drink driving charge if alcohol was involved.

At about 8.30 pm on Saturday night the service was called to a house fire at Wairoa Road, near Tauranga. The house was burned to the ground and a body is reported to have been found at the scene. 

The Waihi Fire Rescue Service water tanker came in handy, as water tankers responded to the call out from Greerton, Matamata and Waihi because of difficulty with water supply 2.5 kms up Wairoa Rd. The Waihi tanker has the biggest water storage capacity so is often called upon to assist in neighbouring areas.

Police investigations into the fatal house fire are continuing.

On Sunday the tanker was called again to help out at Whakarewarewa near Otumoetai, but it returned to the Waihi Station because by the time the Waihi Fire Rescue was half way there the fire was extinguished and the tanker wasn't required.