Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) attended a fire in Springvale Road on Sunday night, after a discarded cigarette butt caused the deck to become alight.

Constable Graham Perkins said emergency services were called to the property around 6:15pm after the occupants noticed smoke coming from underneath the house.

One of the occupants had been having a cigarette on the deck, “and with those winds it has picked up the embers,” he said. 

Fire officers had to cut into the deck before they could extinguish the fire.

Alexandra Police were called to assist officers in Cromwell at an address after a search warrant was executed following a suspicion of cannabis growing.

Four large cannabis plants were found inside a glass house over six feet tall, as well as an unsecured firearm, ammunition and utensils for methamphetamine.

In a separate incident, investigations are underway into the ownership of nine large cannabis plants found in a glasshouse at a Cromwell Air B n B, by the guests staying for the weekend.

Const Perkins said they described the glasshouse as having a “rainforest” feel about it.

Police also caught an Australian tourist travelling 127km/hr through the Cromwell Gorge, who was tucked in behind an ambulance called out to an emergency with its lights and siren going.

On a positive note, Cromwell Police were pleased to be able to donate some unclaimed bikes to Upcycles Charitable Trust, to prevent them going to landfill.

Senior Constable Darren Kidd, of Cromwell, has also been promoted to Sergeant and will be starting in his new position in Alexandra in a few weeks' time.

Alexandra Police has a number of staff vacancies with four officers leaving or changing to new departments - one is heading to Invercargill, two to Australia and two moving into rural and roading.