Trimble Fire in New Zealand

The cause of a Christchurch fire that injured three firefighters when part of the building collapsed may never be known.

Fire Service assistant national commander Dan Coward said today that the Trimble Navigation building in Middleton may have been too badly damaged by yesterday's blaze for the investigation to continue.

"We're at the point where based on the structural integrity of the building, engineers are working with the building owners, insurance ... to see how feasible it is to continue the investigation," he said.

The building would need to be secured before fire safety officers could continue working.

Coward said he could not speculate on the cause of the fire until the engineers had made a decision, due within the next two days.

Initial reports suggested earthquake damage might have contributed to the accident, but Coward said that did not play a part.

The 2000-square-metre building did not have sprinklers, he said.

Senior station officer Peter Dellaca and senior firefighters Jeff Taylor and Garry Dillard were sent to battle the fire that took hold shortly after midnight yesterday.

About 2.15am, the trio, from the Sockburn station's green watch, made their way to the first floor with a fire hose.

"[The fire] was still going pretty good. I was walking in heavy smoke and the pitch black and all I remember is that we went out into a void. Where the void came from, I have no idea," Dellaca said.

"It was just a short drop, with an abrupt stop at the bottom."

His first instinct was to protect his fellow firefighters, especially Taylor, who was in front of him when the floor collapsed.

Taylor, who suffered serious knee injuries, underwent surgery in Christchurch Hospital yesterday afternoon. The surgery went well and Taylor was recuperating in hospital, Coward said.

"It was pretty obvious that Jeff had been injured quite seriously, and the objective was to get him out quite quickly," Dellaca said.

"I used my radio and put a call into my command unit, and we just overwhelmed the place with firefighters."

Taylor was found in under three minutes and carried to safety.

Dellaca injured his left knee, meaning it could be a couple of days before he returned to work.

"It's all part of the job," he said.

Dillard was back at work last night.

He was the first to fall, and reacted by grabbing the fire hose to break his fall.

"I was taken into hospital, checked over, and discharged first with no injuries. I had an overtime shift tonight, so I got back to work."

He described the incident as a "straight-out accident".

Dillard said he had had no problem going into the Trimble building and would do the same again: "It goes with the territory."

Trimble managing director Corinne Haines said the first floor had been off limits because of earthquake damage.

A new ceiling had just been installed in the leased building and the company was only two to three weeks away from using the floor.

Staff were feeling more "philosophical" today and were eager to get back to work, she said.

"They're here, they're keen to help and do something practical. They're meeting down the road at the coffee shop, strategising and trying to be positive."

Ad Feedback The firm, which employs about 240 people, would have to look for new office space, but about half of its staff would be able to return to its undamaged building next week, she said.

Some people would continue to work at home, while others would "squash" into the undamaged building.

The company's email systems were already back up and running, and Haines said it was possible they would be allowed access to some "pockets" of the building today to retrieve any undamaged files and equipment.

Trimble's parent company in the United States was committed to Christchurch and was keen to support it's staff here however they could, she said.

Haines said a mapping system used to record a three-dimensional model of quake-ravaged central Christchurch would be assessed for damage today.

Woolston fire station senior station officer Michael Balmer said there was an increased risk to firefighters since the quakes, and they had "second thoughts" about going into some buildings.

"The number one priority is the safety of our crews [but] things can just happen so quickly, even with all the care in the world," he said.

- The Press