17 Apr 2014

Legal action considered after storage fire

6:04 am on 17 April 2014

People who lost possessions in the Kiwi Self Storage fire in Wellington at the beginning of April are considering legal action against the company.

A group who has rented units in the warehouse met on Wednesday night to discuss their plan of action.

Peter Fowler, one of the organisers of the group, says working with Kiwi Self Storage has been tough at times.

"There's a long way before we can find out if there's any negligence or even any basis or grounds for legal action, but the group has decided it's something to keep on the table and something to consider," he said.

Megan Ransom also rented a unit, and said she was not insured as she could not afford it.

Among her losses was the gear she uses for her bronze sculpting.

"I've lost so much, I've lost a career in a sense," she said.

Fire crews at the Kiwi Self Storage facility.

Fire crews at the Kiwi Self Storage facility. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Rongotai MP Annette King has written to Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne on behalf of the group requesting an investigation of Kiwi Self Storage.

That would include whether the facility was up to the fire code, and whether emergency sprinklers should have been installed.

But Mr Dunne says it's too early to know if that investigation is warranted.

Kiwi Self Storage was invited to attend the meeting, but a spokesperson Andrew Fraser says it would have been inappropriate to be there.

"There were 400 customers affected and we have expressed regret for them through our website and through the media," he said.

"We're very sorry for the loss suffered by our customers."

The police have charged a man, 34, with arson in relation to the fire.

He has been granted interim name suppression and has been remanded in custody.