A 63-year-old man is dead after his family was unable to save
him from a burning house in northern Hawke's Bay this
morning.
One of five occupants of the house north of Wairoa awoke to
find the lounge ablaze about 1am.
He was able to wake his partner and two children and evacuate
them from the house, but could not get through the flames to
save his partner's father, Senior Sergeant Tony Bates of
Wairoa police said.
The family went to a neighbour's house to call the Fire
Service and returned to the house to try to save the
remaining man.
Firefighters found the man dead in his bedroom.
Crews from three fire engines and a tanker had the fire under
control by about 2.40am, Fire Service central communications
shift manager Tim Rees said.
A crew returned to the scene later this morning to dampen
down hot spots after the fire flared up again.
Police and fire safety officers from Hastings would examine
the scene today to establish the cause of the fire.
It was not believed to be suspicious at this stage.
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