Fire and Emergency said the house did not have working smoke alarms, so people were lucky to escape. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Police are investigating a suspicious house fire in Nelson South that left a person with serious injuries.
Detective Sergeant Ian Langridge said a scene guard remained in place in Konini Street, following the blaze on Wednesday night.
He could not say how many people were home at the time but said police were following positive lines of enquiry.
St John said one person was taken to Nelson Hospital by ambulance in a serious condition.
Fire and Emergency Nelson-Marlborough assistant commander Chris Best said the house did not have working smoke alarms and the occupants were lucky to escape.
Six crews from Nelson and Stoke responded to the fire, which was first reported shortly before 10pm and extinguished more than two hours later.
Crews were also called to a garage fire in Nelson South around 10am on Wednesday that also took four crews more than two hours to put out.
FENZ said there was nothing to suggest the two fires were linked.
