Emergency services have returned to the scene of a fatal Porirua siege, where a house at its centre was badly damaged in a fire last night.
A police spokesman said the fire at the Kokiri Cres property, where Pita Tekira fatally shot a police dog on April 22, was being treated as suspicious. An officer was also wounded during the incident.
Mr Tekira, who was on bail for dishonesty, driving and violence offences but had removed his electronic monitoring bracelet and absconded, was found dead at the house the following day.
A fire communications spokesman said four crews were sent to fight last night's blaze and police cordoned off part of the road. There were no reports of anyone being injured.
A witness at the scene said about midnight that the blaze had been bad, but appeared to have been put out.
"We got told it started upstairs in the bedroom but as soon as we went out it looked like it came from the backyard," the young man said.
"The shooting was bad enough, and now this. Don't even feel safe in our own home anymore, it's getting out of control."
He believed the fire was linked to the siege.
Just after midnight, a Fire Service spokesman said the blaze had been extinguished, but crews remained on site cooling down hot spots.
An investigation by a specialist Fire Service team and police would begin today, the spokesman said.
Housing New Zealand said this morning the house would probably be pulled down.
Area manager Kathy Furfie said the organisation was pleased that no one was injured.
"The fire was significant and it is likely that the property will need to be demolished," she said.
"The property was tenanted before the incident occurred last week. The tenant has been staying with family and was not at home."
Ms Furfie said the adjoining property was tenanted but the people who live there were out, although that contrasted with neighbours who said they saw and heard a woman there calling for help.
"We will be working with [the tenants] to make sure they have accommodation while police and fire investigate," Ms Furfie said.
"If they are unable to return to the property we will work with them to find them alternative accommodation."
