Key Points
- There was an outbreak of fire in the balcony of the former Prince of Wales hotel on the upper floors of Princes Street, Dunedin.
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand was alerted through several emergency phone calls around 2pm.
- Four fire engines were dispatched to the scene.
- A minimum of three people were evacuated from the building.
- One woman was admitted to hospital due to smoke inhalation in critical condition.
- Two more people were evacuated after their effort to put out the fire using buckets of water.
- Firefighters were informed initially that there were people trapped in the building.
- The firefighters controlled the blaze and ensured that no one else was left in the building.
- Firefighters would be on standby to see any flare-ups.
- Investigations into the cause of the fire would be carried out.
Wales Fire (Wales Times) October 24, 2026 – A woman has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after being treated for smoke inhalation following a fire at the former Prince of Wales Hotel building in Dunedin’s Princes St.
As reported by the Otago Daily Times, at least three people were evacuated from the historic building after the blaze broke out on the top-floor balcony. Fire and Emergency New Zealand responded after receiving multiple emergency calls at about 2pm, deploying four fire trucks to the central Dunedin location.
The fire was located on the top-floor balcony and was described by Fenz as “well involved” by the time crews arrived. Firefighters were also informed on arrival that people were inside the building and had not been accounted for, adding urgency to the response.
Who was affected by the Princes St blaze?
One woman suffered smoke inhalation during the incident and was treated before being taken to hospital in a serious condition, according to the Otago Daily Times. The report did not identify the woman or provide further details about her medical condition beyond describing it as serious.
Two other people were also evacuated from the building. The Otago Daily Times reported that they had been trying to extinguish the fire using buckets of water before firefighters arrived. No injuries to those two people were reported in the available coverage.
Fenz Senior Station Officer Calvin Harradine said crews appreciated the initiative shown by the pair who attempted to tackle the fire themselves. However, he stressed that the safest course of action was always to evacuate and leave firefighting to trained crews.
How did firefighters respond?
Fenz crews were called to Princes St at about 2pm following multiple emergency calls, Senior Station Officer Calvin Harradine said, as reported by the Otago Daily Times. Four fire trucks attended the scene.
When firefighters arrived, the fire on the top-floor balcony was already well involved. Crews were told that people were inside the property and unaccounted for, prompting a search and evacuation response.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control and then carried out checks to ensure nobody else was inside the building. The Otago Daily Times reported that crews would remain at the scene to monitor the area for possible flare-ups.
What did Fenz say about the fire?
Senior Station Officer Calvin Harradine said firefighters were fortunate to reach the scene when they did. As reported by the Otago Daily Times, he said the situation “could have been much worse”.
Harradine also addressed the actions of two occupants who tried to put out the fire with buckets of water. The Otago Daily Times reported that he appreciated their initiative, but said evacuation was always the safest option and that people should leave firefighting to emergency crews.
The comments highlight the risks associated with smoke and fire in multi-storey buildings, particularly where people may be inside and unaccounted for.
Where did the fire start?
The fire began on the top-floor balcony of the former Prince of Wales Hotel in Princes St, Dunedin. The Otago Daily Times described the property as a historic hotel building.
Photographs published by the Otago Daily Times, credited to Gerard O’Brien, showed firefighters at the scene and smoke billowing from the rear of the Prince of Wales Hotel building. One image showed a firefighter rushing to open a standpipe as smoke emerged from the back of the property.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Will there be an investigation?
Yes. Fire investigators are expected to examine the scene to determine what caused the blaze, according to the Otago Daily Times.
The investigation will follow the firefighting operation, with crews remaining at the location to ensure the fire does not reignite or produce further flare-ups. No cause, origin details, or suspected circumstances were provided in the initial reporting.
Was anyone else injured?
The available reporting identifies one woman as having been treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital in a serious condition. Two other people were evacuated after attempting to extinguish the fire, but the Otago Daily Times report did not state that they required hospital treatment.
Firefighters confirmed that no one else was inside the building after the fire was brought under control. No further casualties were reported in the coverage available at the time of publication.
What happens next?
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews will remain at the former Prince of Wales Hotel site to monitor for flare-ups. Fire investigators will then assess the scene to determine the cause of the fire.
The incident occurred in Dunedin’s Princes St, a central city street where the former Prince of Wales Hotel building is located. Further updates would be expected if investigators establish the cause or if there are changes to the woman’s condition.
Background of the development
The former Prince of Wales Hotel is a historic building in Dunedin’s Princes St. According to the Otago Daily Times, the fire began on its top-floor balcony and was well involved when Fenz arrived. The building’s former hotel use and central-city location made the incident significant for emergency responders, who had to manage both the fire and reports that people inside were unaccounted for.
The response involved four fire trucks and followed multiple emergency calls at about 2pm. The incident also prompted warnings from Senior Station Officer Calvin Harradine that members of the public should evacuate rather than attempt to fight fires themselves.
Prediction: How this may affect Dunedin residents
For Dunedin residents, workers, and visitors in the Princes St area, the development may lead to short-term disruption while Fenz crews remain on site and investigators examine the building. People living or working nearby may see an increased emergency presence, possible access restrictions around the former Prince of Wales Hotel, and ongoing monitoring for flare-ups.
For residents of older multi-storey buildings, the incident may reinforce the importance of knowing evacuation routes, reporting fires immediately, and avoiding attempts to extinguish significant blazes without professional support. Senior Station Officer Calvin Harradine’s advice, as reported by the Otago Daily Times, was that evacuation and calling firefighters remains the safest response.
If investigators identify a preventable cause, the findings could inform future fire-safety checks, building maintenance discussions, or public guidance for occupants of heritage and former commercial buildings in Dunedin. Until then, the immediate effect is likely to be continued caution around the affected Princes St site while crews ensure the fire does not reignite.
