Fireplace ashes cause garage blazes | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

A Mount Maunganui garage fire last night is believed to have been caused by hot ashes, the second of its kind in a matter of days.

The man, who asked to be known as Greg, said he could not believe ashes could cause so much damage to his Eversham Rd property.

The garage was still standing but suffered extensive smoke damage and some fire damage.

Several possessions stored inside were lost.

About 9am yesterday Greg cleaned out his fireplace that was used the night before and put the ashes in a plastic container, which was placed on the floor of the garage.

"I thought they were cold, they seemed cold."

Greg was in and out of the garage all day, with no indication that the ashes were smouldering.

"I went to the shed at 6.45pm to look for something. There was no smell, no nothing."

By 8pm flames were licking out the roller door and a neighbour alerted Greg to the fire.

"Everything happened while we were watching TV."

Greg said when firefighters explained what had happened he was "very surprised".

"I'm usually so careful with that kind of stuff," he said.

"I'm just glad no one was hurt, that's the main thing."

Greg shares his home with his son and two boarders.

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui fire brigades spent about an hour putting the fire out and making the shed safe.

Mount brigade station officer Paul van Kol said flames were coming out from under the roller door when they arrived.

"It was getting to the stage of flashpoint and starting to become quite dangerous."

Tauranga Fire Service's senior station officer Nigel Liddicoat said they got there in the nick of time.

"It was getting to the point where the glass was starting to break in the windows," Mr Liddicoat said.

"People need to be vigilant and careful when they are disposing of ashes, even though they think they are cold. Ideally they should be put in a metal container and even filled with water."

Fireplace ashes can retain heat for two to three days.

On Saturday, firefighters were called to a Matapihi home after reports of a fire in a carport.

The fire was also believed to have started from ashes.