An inmate was seriously injured following a fire in his cell at Spring Hill Prison in Waikato

By RNZ

A man is in a serious condition in hospital after a fire broke out in his cell at Spring Hill Correctional Facility in California Waikato.

The prison’s acting chief executive, Alan Lamb, said the fire occurred at 4.45pm on Friday, but “for safety reasons” he could not say how it started.

Lamb said the sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire, and staff responded immediately to remove the man from his cell.

“There was no risk to the wider security of the prison,” he said.