Emergency services responding to the incident on Epsom Road. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
A woman has been taken into police custody after a house fire in Sockburn, Christchurch.
Three police officers suffered mild smoke inhalation while responding to the incident, while the woman suffered serious injuries.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Epsom Road at 3:10pm on Tuesday.
Police said the woman refused to leave the property when they arrived.
Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
"Police officers spent some time engaging with the woman and she was safely taken into custody at 4.55pm," inspector and response manager Paul Reeves said.
He said while there was no risk to the wider community, cordons were put in place so emergency services could work safely.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson told RNZ four fire trucks and a command unit were called to a property.
St John said an ambulance and a rapid response unit were at the property.
The woman was transported to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition.
Three police officers that responded to the fire suffered mild smoke inhalation and were treated by ambulance staff at the scene.
The woman was the sole occupant of the house.
Police responding to the incident on Epsom Road. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
A business owner on Epsom Road said they could see police on the road, which was blocked off, but they did not know what had happened.
A woman in a nearby office building told RNZ she could see "multiple police cars, four fire engines and the command unit", and an ambulance had gone past earlier.
The road appeared to be closed from immediately in front of her building on the edge of a large business park, down to Racecourse Rd.
She said emergency services had not been in touch, and no one at her office had any information about what was happening.
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