Two killed in massive house fire
A passer-by has spoken about the moment he spotted a house on fire and raced to wake up those inside.
Two people died yesterday morning in the house fire in South Auckland and another has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Jonathon Asafo was taking his son to daycare when he drove past the house engulfed in flames and “raced back” to warn everybody inside, he told RNZ.
“I quickly ... drove up the driveway and I started tooting my horn and then calling, running around for any response."
A man who had been sleeping downstairs emerged from the back of the house. He feared for his two friends who had been sleeping upstairs, Asafo said.
He described the man as being in his 20s with the skin on his hands burnt off.
Asafo had concerns the fire may have started from a fireplace on the first level of the home but couldn’t be sure. “It’s just sad that we weren’t able to do anything more to rescue the other two but I guess being able to help one victim is better than [nothing].’’
Emergency services were called out to the “well involved” fire at a family home in Freshney Place, Hillpark, just before 7am.
Speaking from the scene, Fire and Emergency New Zealand Assistant Commander Brendon Irwin said two people died in the blaze.
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they responded with three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an operations manager. “One patient was transported to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition,” they said.
Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman said the family had lived at the address for a long time and were “engaged members of the community”.
It’s understood the family bought the home in 2001 and had resided there for over 20 years. “Hillpark is a tight-knit community and people tend to be quite familiar with one another. I would not envisage a tragedy such as this, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased,” Newman said.
Five crew and trucks and a command unit were working on the fire from Manurewa, Papatoetoe, Papakura, Otara and Avondale.
“Crews have scaled back now, some remain on standby at the scene,” a spokesperson said.