Fatal sleepout fire sparks checks on appliances

A 42-year-old man died in the fire in this garage. Picture / Richard Robinson

Investigators have ruled out arson as the cause of a fire that killed a 42-year-old South Auckland man in this garage being used as a sleepout in Flat Bush, Manukau, in the early hours of Saturday morning, but it could be some time before an official cause is established.

The man and a small dog died in the fire about 1.15am.

He had not been publicly identified last night.

Manukau fire safety officer George Stephens said there were no smoke alarms in the sleepout.

Auckland chief fire safety officer Murray Binning said fire safety officers were greeted by a "complex scene" following the fire and had taken away a number of electrical appliances for testing.

There was also evidence of the use of candles, he said.

It was the second fatal house fire in South Auckland in a week.

Last Tuesday, 79-year-old Asena Tongotongo died as she tried to rescue a young boy from their burning home in the Manukau City suburb of Mangere.