Police and Fire and Emergency investigate the fatal car and house fire on Thomas St, Tikipunga on Monday. Video / Northern Advocate
A fatal car and house fire in Whangārei early Monday morning is being treated as suspicious and the death as unexplained.
About 20 police officers, plus Fire and Emergency NZ investigators and ESR scientists are investigating the man’s death, which has saddened and shocked neighbours.
At 2.40am Fenz received multiple calls to a fire that started in a car in Tikipunga. Fenz said that on arrival crews found the fire had spread to the house.
Detective Inspector Al Symonds said a man was found alive inside the home after the fire had been extinguished.
“Despite efforts from first responders, the man received critical injuries, and sadly died at the scene,” Symonds said.
The Kāinga Ora house is down a long driveway and surrounded by boarded-up Kāinga Ora houses, ready to be removed and redeveloped.
On Monday morning, the street was relatively quiet, with a few people driving past to see more detail. Four police cars and four Fire and Emergency vehicles were at the scene, where investigations were being carried out.
The scene examination is continuing, Symonds said on Monday afternoon, with about 20 police officers involved in the investigation.
Police were called to the scene by Fenz after the man was found, which is normal procedure, Symonds said.
“In conjunction with our colleagues at Fenz, we determined it needed a bit more investigation as to what happened.”
Fire and emergency and police investigators work on the house in Thomas St, Tikipunga after the fatal fire in Whangārei. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Symonds would not be drawn on what could have started the fire, including if it might have been deliberate: “Until we get some facts on how the fire was started, I can’t comment.”
The victim has been identified by police but his name will not be released until family has been contacted, he said.
Neighbours of the victim have commented on social media how scary the fatal fire was to wake up to.
“This was our neighbour, still a bit shaken up from this morning ... R.I.P neighbour,” said one person.
“It was very scary to watch. Our condolences to the family,” said another.
The post-mortem examination and formal identification of the victim will take place in the coming days.
Fire and emergency remain at the scene of the fatal house fire on Monday. Photo / Michael Cunningham
“Our investigation is now in the early stages to determine the full circumstances of what has occurred,” Symonds said.
Northern shift manager Paul Radden said both car and house were “well involved in fire” when the brigade arrived.
Two crews from Whangārei and two from Kamo attended the blaze. As of 5.30am, the fire was contained, with one crew still at the scene tamping down hotspots.
Just before 5am, crews were called to a second car fire in Tikipunga. Radden did not know if the two fires were related.
Symonds is asking that anyone who was in the area or has information to assist who has not yet spoken to police to get in touch.
