A brief timeline of the key events during the tragic Loafers Lodge fire in Wellington. Video / NZ Herald
When fire first broke out at Wellington’s Loafers Lodge this week, nobody could imagine the horror that would unfold.
Fire crews were called to the scene in Newtown at 12.25am on Tuesday where they were faced with what Wellington Fire and Emergency district manager Nick Pyatt said was their worst nightmare.
Firefighters found the fire on the top floor of the building well-involved when they arrived. Photo / Sunnie Chan
At its peak, more than 80 firefighters from 29 crews attended.
They were confronted with the most challenging of scenes - fighting the flames while also trying to get people out and putting their own lives at risk.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a horrific situation. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Wade Sloane went to the scene that morning to look for his mate who had been living at the lodge - he later discovered his friend had moved out within the past month and wasn't caught up in the blaze. Photo / Georgina Campbell
During the day firefighters could be seen hosing down hotspots from above the building while the buzz of a drone filled the air.
Pyatt said six crews remained on-site including an Urban Search and Rescue Squad made up of technicians and drone operators.
By early Tuesday afternoon, Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau had announced a mayoral relief for those affected.
The council pledged $50,000.
Drones were used to help assess the building after the blaze. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Parts of the building were still considered dangerous after the fire. Photo / George Heard
After 4pm on Tuesday, Chief Coroner Judge Anna Tutton was among several officials who addressed media at the scene.
Legally, the bodies of the victims of the tragedy were in the custody of the Coroner, she said.
Once recovery of the bodies of the victims was possible, they will be treated with respect, she promised the loved ones of those who had died.
Police were still treating the fire as unexplained on Tuesday evening.
Police confirmed at Tuesday afternoon's press conference that six bodies had been found in Loafers Lodge. Photo / George Heard
On Wednesday morning, Chris, a survivor of the fire, said it was “very emotional” returning to the scene of the blaze, knowing his “bros are still in there”.
Chris said he wanted to return to the Adelaide Rd cordon to put some flowers down for “my bros who passed away”.
They announced they were treating the fire as arson and a homicide investigation was under way.
On Thursday morning, FENZ held a press conference to respond to questions about whether they had the right equipment available to respond to the fire.
Chief Executive Kerry Gregory said they did.
Just two days before the fire the Professional Firefighters’ Union said Wellington had been hit by “58 hours of chaos” after multiple trucks were out of action.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand chief executive Kerry Gregory praised his staff and said the Loafers Lodge fire had been an “extremely traumatic incident”. Photo / George Heard
That afternoon emergency services formed a guard of honour along a footpath near the hostel as they awaited the first body to be recovered from the scene.
Police were able to recover two of the fire victims that day.
By 9.30pm, police confirmed they had arrested a man in relation to the fire and had charged him with two counts of arson.
Emergency services formed a guard of honour. Photo / George Heard
Emergency services paid their respects to those who lost their lives in the blaze. Photo / George Heard
On Friday afternoon a 48-year-old man appeared in court.
Wearing a black hoodie and making hand gestures and wavy movements with his arms, the man stomped back and forth in the dock and told the court he didn’t commit the arson.
The man was granted interim name suppression and is due to appear in court again on June 19.
Police confirmed later that day they had recovered two more bodies from the scene.
Police and fire investigators on the top level of Loafers Lodge as they searched the site of the deadly fire. Photo / George Heard
A detailed forensic scene examination is expected to extend into next week. Photo / George Heard
Police recovered a fifth body on Saturday. They have located 99 people with fewer than 10 unaccounted for.
Anyone who has made a report to police of a missing loved one, who has since made contact with them, can get in touch via 105 and quote Operation Rose.
