Infant dies after South Taranaki house engulfed in fire
Police have confirmed an infant has died following a house fire in Taranaki early yesterday.
Acting detective Senior Sergeant Louise Prendergast said support was being offered to those involved, following the fire at a property in Fitzroy St, Normanby, South Taranaki, which was reported at 4.10am.
Police and Fenz investigators were at the scene and a scene examination was underway, along with enquiries in the area as part of the initial stages of an investigation, she said.
“We are working hard to establish the circumstances that have led to this tragic incident.
“We know that the community will be shocked and saddened by this incident.”
Police were visible in the area while enquiries were underway and further information will be released proactively when available, she said.
Normanby is a town of about 1700 people.
Neighbour Stan Adamson, who lived two doors down, said he woke around 5am, and found the street full of emergency vehicles.
Another neighbour who lived across the road from the house had seen the fire and run across, breaking the windows and shouting at people inside to get out, he said.
“He was first on the scene and will be pretty shaken up, I’d say,” he said.
“It was well ablaze when he got there.” The house was completely destroyed by the fire and neighbours on at least one side were evacuated as the fire raged. A van on the property was also burned out.
Adamson said he believed the house was more than 100 years old.
He said a young couple lived at the address with their baby and had been renovating the house with their relatives.
Media inquiring at the scene were told to contact police communications.
Yesterday morning an area around the
Another neighbour who lived across the road from the house had seen the fire and run across, breaking the windows and shouting at people inside to get out.
property was cordoned off by police tape, and there was a road block at the end of the street. Several police cars and officers from the Criminal Investigation Branch were at the scene.
What looked to be normally a quiet street was busy with the police and fire service staff along with a Powerco truck with linesmen working on the power lines near the property, and a few residents watching the activity from behind the police tape.
A gazebo had been set up in the front of the property and two portaloos were delivered and set up on the grass opposite the property.
Earlier in the morning Fenz Central shift manager Chris Dalton said, five fire trucks and two water tankers were deployed. By 10.30am most fire crews had left.
Dalton confirmed one person died in the blaze after the house was “fully engulfed” in fire.
“They [the person] were found in [the] property.”
“The fire is extinguished.
“Fire investigators are en route.“
A police spokesperson said police had arrived on scene after 7am and inquiries into the cause of the fire were under way.