9 Mar 2010

Fire destroys Ranfurly businesses

7:27 am on 9 March 2010

The central Otago town of Ranfurly is counting the cost after a spectacular fire on Monday morning.

The fire, which took hold just after 5am, destroyed a service station, a sandwich shop, a bike shop and the flat where the owners of the businesses lived.

A total of 25 firefighters from Ranfurly and the surrounding towns attended the blaze, which quickly took hold, causing the roof to collapse and exploding LPG cylinders on the site.

The town's butcher, Graham Jones, says he was on his way to work when he noticed smoke coming from the garage.

He says he and another passer-by managed to rouse the owners, who lived in a flat on the premises and get them out of the building.

Mr Jones says the couple was shocked but otherwise unharmed.

He says the blaze at its height was spectacular.

The destroyed businesses included the town's only bike shop, which caters for tourists using the nearby historic Rail Trail.

Cheryl Smith, whose family owns one of the town's four garages, says everyone feels for the couple who have lost everything.

Local MP Jacqui Dean says the fire has rocked the township.

Fire safety officers are investigating the cause.