Sports fan dies in house fire

Don Barriball. Photo / Supplied

A Hunua man died after becoming trapped in his burning home while watching the second State of Origin rugby league game.

Firefighters say the blaze that killed 57-year-old Don Barriball started after the door of a wood burner was left open and an ember jumped out on to carpet or furniture.

It is believed Mr Barriball tried to escape before being overcome by smoke. Sneaky, his cat, was found dead nearby.

His employer, Stuart Murray, said Mr Barriball had watched the All Whites game against Slovakia the previous evening, worked a full day on the farm, then watched the league game on Wednesday night.

The Fire Service's Auckland region senior risk management officer, George Stephens, said he had been told by neighbours that Mr Barriball had a smoke alarm but had removed the batteries because it kept going off.

Mr Barriball worked six days a week on the Murray's farm.

"We needed someone who could handle all the complicated things that went along with chicken farming, Don just fitted in perfectly," Mr Murray said.

"He never had a day off sick. He was a pleasure to have here, I'm going to miss him like hell. I can't speak highly enough of him."

Alpaca farmer Jenny Ellwood-Wade called 111 when she saw the flames across the road. She said Mr Barriball was a "lovely man".

His sisters paid tribute to their brother, who had become a new grandfather.

"He was a beautiful father to Stacey-Marie and he was really treasured, so treasured in our family," Dawn Barriball said.

Elaine Heron, who last spoke to her brother about an hour before the fire happened, said she was absolutely heartbroken. "He was a terrific dad and he loved everybody - even those who cheated him. He had a lot of aroha and he could make a great hangi. He was just terrific."