Fire chiefs dodge questions over fatal blaze

CULLEN SMITH | 28th October 2009

Fire Service chiefs called out to a fatal Rangiora blaze were driven to the scene after attending a social barbecue that afternoon.

The Fire Service yesterday refused to specifically answer questions whether Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade chief and North Canterbury area manager Ross Ditmer, and Tranzalpine region manager Rob Saunders, had been drinking alcohol prior to being called out to the blaze on September 20, which claimed the life of Mary Jean Chaston, 87.

A major question being asked by Mrs Chaston’s family is why she was not removed from the house for 25 minutes after volunteer firefighters found no sign of life.

Ambulance staff revived her after she was removed from the house, but she died the following day in Christchurch Hospital.

Mrs Chaston’s family say she was a fit and active woman and they believe she would have survived if she’d been removed earlier.

Acting Fire Service national commander Bill Butzbach said Mr Ditmer and Mr Saunders had attended a barbecue and both had been driven from their homes to the Victoria St fire.

In a statement he said: "The fire was under control and the recovery operation under way when Mr Ditmer assumed control, four or five hours after leaving the barbecue".

A leaked fire service communications log to The Star, shows Mr Ditmer arrived six minutes after the first fire crew.

Nine minutes later a radio message records that "one person (Mrs Chaston) was still unaccounted for".

Twelve minutes after that, another message records Mr Ditmer as having spoken to Mr Saunders recording Mrs Chaston’s death.

Mr Butzbach declined to answer if Mr Ditmer and Mr Saunders had been drinking at the barbecue, saying only they had not consumed alcohol during working hours.

"The barbecue was on a Sunday. There is no evidence to suggest they did not perform their duties competently at the fire," he said.

Mr Ditmer and Mr Saunders did not return calls from The Star yesterday.

Mr Butzbach said Mr Saunders arrived at the fire "to give moral support to the volunteers as it appeared there may be a fatality".