House fire victim named

Police have named the elderly woman who died last night after being badly burned in a house fire in Rangiora on Sunday.

She was 87-year-old Mary Chaston, Christchurch police said.

A passerby pulled Ms Chaston's husband from the burning house, but he was beaten back by the flames as he went back to rescue her.

Firefighters wearing breathing equipment found her on her bedroom floor.

She was taken to Canterbury Hospital suffering serious burns but died last night, Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Ross Ditmer said today.

Fire safety officers believed the cause of the fire was an overloaded powerpoint by Ms Chaston's bed that had four power multi-boxes plugged to it.

"That's always a no no," Mr Ditmer said.

He added that during fires the key message was "get out, stay out".

"We believe one (of the occupants) tried to suppress the fire, and it nearly cost him his life."

The fire was intense enough to melt the lid of the washing machine, he said.

Ms Chaston's death will be referred to the coroner.

- NZPA