KEY POINTS:
An Upper Hutt family who lost their home in a fatal blaze have been struck by tragedy for the second time in the past five years.
The Miro St home in suburban Trentham was destroyed in a fire in the early hours of yesterday morning, with the body of a man found dead in a sleepout.
Police were unable to confirm the identity of the victim but were "99 per cent sure" the man was a boarder who lived at the address.
Raymond King is listed at living at the charred home, along with owners Les and Lisa Dahm, who lost their 14-year-old daughter Marcelina in a fatal car accident in November 2004.
Marcelina had been riding in a suspected stolen car with two 15-year-old boys when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
The family, which includes four children aged from three to 13 years old, have lived in the house for nearly 20 years, according to neighbours.
Three of the family, including two children, were taken to Lower Hutt Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns, but were yesterday discharged after treatment.
Detective Sergeant Tony Heathcote of the Upper Hutt CIB said specialist ESR and fire safety officers were starting their investigation of the scene late yesterday afternoon - but it could take up to three days for results to be known.
"It is not considered suspicious at the moment, though."
Forensic work may be required before the body could be formally identified, said Heathcote.
The detective confirmed there were no smoke alarms in the sleepout and investigators were yet to discover whether those fitted in the main house worked properly.
Neighbour Judy Atua, who has lived in the street for around 20 years, said the house became engulfed in flames quickly after the blaze started around 12.50am.
"The fire engines turned up immediately, but the house went so fast. There were already flames coming out the sides of the walls."
Lower Hutt chief fire officer Peter Bean said they received multiple 111 calls and firefighters arrived quickly.
On arrival, rescuers were told one person had not made it out.
Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and searched both buildings but were unable to save him. The man's body was found in the sleepout about 3m behind the house.
A strong wind meant that smoke shrouded neighbouring homes.
"It was rather terrifying for everybody," Atua said.
