People are being warned to dispose of hot ashes in an appropriate manner after ashes in a plastic container burnt a hole through a Queenstown deck.

While the incident may not be local, it is a timely reminder for people who use fires to heat their house to dispose of ashes in a steel container, submerge them in water or some other method of preventing them from re-igniting.

A fire burned through this first floor balcony on Hallenstein St after ashes were left in a plastic container. Photo: Stu Ide.

Fire risk management officer for Central and North Otago Stu Ide says prior to Monday's fire in Hallenstein St, there had been 10 fires in the Central and North Otago area associated with the disposal of hot ashes since July 1 last year, that the fire brigade was aware of.

"I suspect there has probably been many more that have been extinguished by the occupants and we haven't been notified."

On Monday a flatmate at the Queenstown house had placed ashes in a plastic container and left it sitting on the first floor balcony, says Stu.

Another tenant later noticed smoke rising as it burned through the deck. No fire alarms had sounded as it was outside.

If it hadn't been spotted the fire could have quickly moved up the wall cavity into the ceiling, says Stu.

"If the same fire occurred in the early hours of the morning and developed without being noticed, today we would be removing bodies from that house. I can't put any it any more plain or simple than this.”

The fire brigade extinguished the fire with a high pressure hose.

The key message is to put ashes into a metal ash bucket with a lid and keep it away from the house, says Stu.

"Wait five days for them to cool down before putting them into a wheelie bin or water them down straight away with copious quantities of water.”

- Stuff