Fire and Emergency were at an Auckland apartment building that had smoke coming out of it. Photo: Lucy Xia/RNZ
An e-scooter caused a fire in an Auckland CBD apartment on Thursday morning, Fire and Emergency says.
Fire crews were called to the building at the corner of Cook and Nelson streets about 5.30am.
Firefighters rescued two people who were asleep in an apartment where the e-scooter had caught fire, Assistant fire commander Barry Thomas said.
Up to 300 residents were evacuated, he said.
Smoke was coming from the apartment building. Photo: Emilia Sullivan/RNZ
Fire and Emergency said the fire was in an apartment on the 9th floor.
Investigators would look into whether the e-scooter was charging or had been damaged in some way, Thomas told Morning Report.
The assistant fire commander said about 300 residents were evacuated. Photo: Lucy Xia/RNZ
Though there was a lot of smoke, the fire itself didn't go beyond the apartment, and was mostly extinguised by the sprinkler system, he said. The bedroom containing the e-scooter had the most damage.
Thomas said one of the people rescued from the apartment was assessed by St John ambulance and the other declined treatment.
Five fire trucks were at the building before 6am when smoke could be seen coming out of the top of the apartment block and from a vent on the roadside.
"We don't like having to evacuate people from a large block at that time of the morning but it really was necessary at this time," Thomas said.
Evacuated residents have been allowed to return to their homes.
Fire and Emergency were at the scene. Photo: Belinda McCammon/RNZ
