Neighbours are in shock after a well-liked resident of their street died in a house fire last night. Emergency services responded to the blaze in a house on Taumata Rd, in Castor Bay on Auckland's North Shore, just after 10pm.
Fire and Emergency shift manager Scott Osmond said five appliances with 20 firefighters were called to the fire. Crews worked at the scene until 3am, he said.
A body was found just after firefighters entered the home. No one else was believed to be in the home at the time of the fire.
Barry Holden, a neighbour for 25 years, said he saw flames coming out of the house and firefighters responded quickly to the blaze.
The occupant of the house was well-known and well-liked.