Fairlie fire lands one person in hospital, three stores gutted

Three shops have been gutted and a person is in hospital after an early morning fire in the small south Canterbury town of Fairlie. Four fire trucks responded to the blaze on the town's main street about two o'clock this morning. Later in the morning a Fire and Emergency support vehicle rolled while trying to transport gear to the scene - one person became trapped and had to be rescued by emergency services. Investigators are now trying to determine the cause of the fire. Fairlie Bakehouse owner Franz Lieber witnessed the ordeal.