A group of campers fought desperately in a futile attempt to contain a fire that destroyed a historic homestead at the Skippers camping area near Queenstown early yesterday. Queenstown police now want to speak to a couple who fled the scene without alerting other campers or calling emergency services. One of the campers, Lee Gamble, of Queenstown, said he awoke just before 2am to see flames in the rear-vision mirror of his vehicle. Another resort resident, Morgan Harteveld, said the homestead was already ''well-engulfed'' by the time the group realised what was happening. Central-North Otago Fire Risk Management Officer Stu Ide praised the efforts of the campers who fought the fire.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 01, 2018 16:07 UTC