Two Rotorua brothers who rescued a little boy from a raging house fire which claimed a woman's life are to be commended for their bravery.
Deena Christa Borrell, 32, died in a rear bedroom of the house in Clayton Rd, Rotorua, on April 4.
Wiremu and Henare Ropata, 18 and 22, were vomiting from smoke inhalation outside the burning house when fire officers arrived about midnight.
Central North Island Area Commander Graham Fuller said the brothers had been watching television when they saw the blaze across the road and immediately dashed out to see if they could help.
They asked disoriented people standing outside whether anyone was still in the house and were told a woman and a young boy had not made it out.
They did not hesitate to enter the inferno and found the screaming boy, who was about seven or eight, in a bedroom.
When he was safely with family outside, they re-entered to try and find the woman but the heat and smoke were too intense and she could not be saved.
Mr Fuller said while the boys' actions went against the Fire Service's advice, what they did saved a life and that needed to be acknowledged.
They will be awarded Fire Service certificates of commendation for their heroic efforts, to be presented by the team who were on duty that night and the little boy's family.
"We don't dish out certificates very often but they risked their lives, there's no doubt about that, and their actions prevented a second death at that house. Clearly they were brave boys," Mr Fuller said.
Assistant Area Commander Nigel Richards said the investigation into the cause of the fire had eliminated all causes other than smoking in bed.
The woman would likely have been saved had there been a fire alarm installed at the property and that smoking in bed was "not the best idea".
"You might end up dying for your last cigarette," he said.
The Fire Service was keen to get across the message that fire alarms saved lives, Mr Richards said.
"Whether you have just moved into your house, whether you have been in your house for 20 years, whether you are staying with friends, whether you are on holiday, for God's sake get yourself a smoke alarm, at least in your sleeping accommodation."
Mr Fuller said the Fire Service was more than happy to offer free fire safety advice and to help install smoke alarms, which are free to anyone with a Community Services Card.
