Ashes in bucket caused fire that killed children

The interior of the house after the fire. Picture / Tim Skinner

The house fire in which two children perished at the weekend was started by ashes placed in a plastic bucket, police said today.

Charna Maria Baileys Edwards, 11, and Whetumarama James Edwards, 12, died when the small bach where they lived, in Mariri, near Motueka, was engulfed in flames.

The children's grandmother and uncle were injured in the fire.

Police had said the fire was not suspicious and today it emerged that it began when ashes were put in a plastic bucket in the living area.

Just last week Auckland firefighters warned householders to take care when disposing of household ashes after fire razed a $1 million house when ashes were placed in a cardboard box.

The house was in Paritai Drive, one of Auckland's best addresses. In the Auckland case, the ashes smouldered for several hours before igniting the box, the deck, and spreading to the house, which was left a burnt-out shell.

In the aftermath of the Motueka fire, the focus was turning today to helping the schoolmates of the dead children cope.

"The families of the classes that the children were in have been contacted and asked if they could discuss it with their kids," principal Eric Davies told National Radio.

Grief counsellors were being sent to Lower Moutere School today.

Both the uncle and the grandmother were recovering in Nelson Hospital today.

Senior Sergeant Grant Andrews said the house was well ablaze by the time firefighters arrived and took about 30 or 40 minutes to get under control.

- NZPA