KEY POINTS:
A child is dead, and the mother and three of her other children in hospital after a house fire in Porirua this morning.
Firefighters were called to the Hereford St property in Cannons Creek at 9.46am and the house was well ablaze by the time they arrived, station officer Gerald Twiss said.
Fire officers found the body of a small child in the lounge.
Two children had been put out a window, and the mother was outside with the baby when firefighters arrived.
The mother and three children were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.
Mr Twiss said the fire engulfed the house "quickly" and, fanned by strong winds, was "totally involved" when the fire service arrived.
Seven fire appliances, ambulance, police, victim support and council hazard officers attended the scene, he said.
Environmental Science and Research was checking the safety of the asbestos roof.
Fire safety officers and police will now investigate the cause of the blaze.
Mr Twiss said it was not believed to have involved fireworks despite occurring on Guy Fawkes Day.
"It's not known whether the house had smoke alarms, or whether they were working, but it is a reminder...they are cheap insurance," Mr Twiss said.
Neighbour Tapu Matapuku, 15, said he was sleeping when the fire began and was woken by the smell.
"I looked outside and all I could see was smoke. I saw three or four kids run down the back (of the property)."
He said he went to the property and spoke with the mother, who was fearful her children may still be inside.
The house was "too hot" to enter and look for the children, he said.
By then the flames were "running around everywhere".
Tapu said there were older children who were away at school and the father at work.
"The people are cool, they always ask us to come and play cause they've got a pool table in the garage."
He said the family moved into the house last year.
- NZPA
