Mairehau house fire: Child dead, six injured

A child has died and six people have been injured, one critically, after a house fire in Christchurch.

Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have started inquiries after the child died at the scene of the fire in Mairehau.

An adult has received critical injuries, three other people were in a serious to moderate condition, and two received minor injuries, police said on Friday.

The injured are two adults and four children and they were all transported to hospital.

Neighbours said they were shocked and heartbroken by the child's death.

They said some of the injured people who escaped were helped on the street by other residents.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan says a scene guard was put in place at the property overnight.

"Police will be carrying out a scene examination today, including working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire investigators."

The cause of the fire is still to be determined, but it is not believed to be suspicious.

Emergency services were called at about 8.25pm on Thursday.

An RNZ reporter at the scene on Friday morning says neighbours told her a family had lived there.

The reporter said she has been told by one neighbour that they saw "very high flames" when they came outside last night.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers who visited the scene last night has expressed his support for those affected today.

"These tragic incidents are not easy for staff and whenever possible I do try to show up to offer my support for them."

He was visiting Christchurch to thank staff involved in the investigation and ongoing trial relating to the death of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming.

Christchurch Metro Area Commander Superintendent Lane Todd said emergency services worked at the scene until late on Thursday night.

Cordons remain in place on Whitehall Street and Hills Road.

At first, it was unclear how many people were in the house.

"Reports were made that a house was on fire with people unaccounted for," Todd said in a previous statement.

Strike action called off

Firefighters have decided to call off a nationwide one-hour strike from noon today due to the tragedy.

The NZPFU National Committee said the decision had been made in recognition of "the impact of the fire on the whānau (of those who were in the house), their wider support network and in recognition the loss and devastation will be widely felt by Christchurch and ripple through the country".

"We acknowledge the efforts of all those that responded, including the 111 emergency dispatchers and the firefighting crews with work continuing today with fire investigation members and the impact this incident will have had on them all."

Cancelling the strike was a way to show support, the committee said.

This story was first published on rnz.co.nz