A man will appear in court this week on assault charges after allegedly obstructing firefighters at a blaze in Lower Hutt, from which a family escaped in their pyjamas.<\/p>\n
Emergency services were called to a block of flats in the suburb of Moera, about 9pm on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Fire and Emergency NZ Wellington assistant district commander Brett Lockyer said fire crews were confronted by a man who became aggressive and tried to stop them doing their job.<\/p>\n
“Thankfully none of the crews were injured at all.”<\/p>\n
It was “disappointing” to see behaviour like this from members of the public, he said.<\/p>\n
Police were called and a 55-year-old man was arrested, Lockyer said.<\/p>\n
A resident from the three storey block of flats on Croft Grove told RNZ the fire broke out on their floor, which was shared with another apartment.<\/p>\n
They said their family was able to escape in their pyjamas, but a young father was burned trying to put the fire out, and was taken to Hutt Hospital.<\/p>\n
Two fire trucks and several police crews were sent to the fire.<\/p>\n