A fatal house fire in Waihī has sparked urgent calls for Kiwis to take fire safety seriously this winter – especially when it comes to protecting older whānau.
A 71-year-old man was found dead after a blaze tore through a three-bedroom home on Montrose Rd at 7.45am on June 13.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the house was “well-involved” when crews arrived, and police said the fire is not thought to be suspicious. The man’s cause of death is being determined by the coroner.
The tragedy comes amid growing concern about the heightened risk of house fires during the colder months, particularly for people aged 60-plus.
Fire and Emergency Tauranga community readiness and recovery adviser Arron King said heaters, cooking and log burners were among the leading causes of winter fires.
“Using timers and plugging heaters directly into wall sockets, rather than multi-boards, can make a real difference,” said King.
He warned that improper ash disposal was also a common cause of fires: “Ashes can stay hot for three to five days. Always place them in a steel bucket, douse them in water, and never throw them in the garden or rubbish bin.”
Every home should have working photoelectric smoke alarms, at least two clear exits and a safe meeting place outside, King said.
Fire and Emergency’s acting deputy chief executive, Nick Pyatt, said people aged 60-plus accounted for 55% of all house fire deaths in the past five years.
“The harm happening to older people is far too high, and we can all do more to protect them,” said Pyatt.
“We see at least 50% more fires in May, June and July than any other time of year.”
Two more house fires in Tauranga on the evening of June 14 have reinforced the warning.
A Matua Rd house was “well-involved” when crews arrived about 7pm. The fire, later found to be accidental, caused significant damage – but the home had working smoke alarms, and no one was injured. Around the same time, another fire broke out at a Farm St property in Mount Maunganui, believed to have started due to a blown light bulb.