Flames broke out in the nine-storey Wellington apartment building on Tuesday, but everyone was safely accounted for, Kāinga Ora says. Photo: RNZ / Nick James
A fire in a central Wellington apartment block has left authorities scrambling to find accommodation for the occupants of ten Kāinga Ora flats.
Fire and Emergency services were called to a blaze in the fifth floor of the Church Street apartment building at 6pm on Tuesday.
Seven fire crews from throughout the Wellington region were sent to fight the fire.
The building contains more than 90 flats, which were all evacuated.
A Kāinga Ora spokesperson said they have been checking on their residents.
"Our immediate focus was on checking to make that sure all our customers were safe. Thankfully no one was injured, but we have had to move about 10 of our customers from their homes.
"Our teams are now working to find them alternative places to live while we assess the extent of the damage to their homes and organise any repair work that is necessary.
On Tuesday Fire and Emergency said the blaze was being treated as suspicious, but the Kāinga Ora spokesperson said they had since been told by Fire and Emergency that early information suggests the cause of the fire was accidental.
As well as firefighters working on the flames, the blaze had partly been contained by the sprinkler system, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson told RNZ on Tuesday.
Among the possible hazards remaining after the fire was put out, authorities would be checking the building for any remaining toxic gases and smoke on the floors affected, before people could be allowed to return home, Fire and Emergency said.