Fire investigator reveals cause of shed fire in Rangitīkei

Specialist fire investigator Anna Gordon said a shed at the rear of the property was “well alight”.

“They lost all the contents of their shed, but their house was not damaged.”

An investigation found that embers removed from a fireplace and left outside had ignited as the wind changed direction and ignited the shed.

Gordon recommended that the embers be placed in a metal container or bucket, which should then be filled with water.

He said the embers should be left in the bucket and away from any buildings for two to three days as they could “retain heat for a long period of time”.

He said many fires observed by fire services were caused by loose embers or improper disposal of embers.

“I think what surprises people is how hot their ashes will stay for such an extended period of time.”

He said it could take days for the ashes to cool properly.

Working smoke detectors were also an important tool for fire prevention.

Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She started as a reporter in 2023.