Jet ski blaze injures three in Tinwald

Two jet skis caught fire in a driveway on Nursery Drive in Tinwald on Wednesday evening, sending three people to hospital. Emergency services received a call about the explosion and subsequent fire at 5:38 pm.

Hato Hone St John dispatched three ambulances, one helicopter, and one operations manager to the scene. Two individuals were transported to Ashburton Hospital in moderate condition. A third patient was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital in serious condition.

Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Jeff Marshall stated that a jet ski on a trailer in the driveway ignited and spread flames to a second watercraft. Four crew members wore breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire. Marshall noted that neighboring properties escaped damage, though a car in the driveway suffered residual heat damage to its tail light. Police managed traffic at the intersection while crews worked.

The brigade faced additional demands on Monday night when two separate hedge fires broke out. Crews were alerted to the first incident just before 10 pm in the Coldstream area. Marshall described a 300-meter hedge fire pushed toward a house by strong winds. Eight appliances from Willowby, Geraldine, Rangitata, and Ashburton attended. Crews focused on the tree line to save the house and remained on scene for nearly three hours.

An hour later, at 11 pm, the Ashburton Brigade joined units from Geraldine, Rangitata, Temuka, Pendarves, and Mayfield for a tree and scrub fire in the Lowcliffe area. Some appliances from the Coldstream call were redirected to this second fire. Marshall reported the blaze covered an area of approximately 30 meters by 10 meters in a fence line. Crew members did not return home until after 2 am.

The week also saw a collision at the corner of Hatfield Overdale Road and State Highway 1 on Tuesday at 11:30 pm. Rakaia Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Tyrone Burrowes said a vehicle failed to stop and clipped the front of a truck. Burrowes reported that crews kept both lanes open by slowing traffic and clearing debris. Hato Hone St John sent one ambulance to the scene. A police spokesperson stated one driver received an infringement notice. All patients declined assessment from the ambulance crew.