KEY POINTS:
A family that lost two young children in a Mangere house fire has urged others to ensure smoke alarms are in use as they laid the children to rest today.
Taua Evile, 11, and Mia Evile, 8, were farewelled at a moving funeral service that drew more than 200 people to a small church at Tai Tapu, 15km south of Christchurch. A large screen outside the church displayed images of the girls as their favourite music played.
The girls were staying with their father Misi Sau Evile when the fatal fire began from chip oil that was left on the stove.
Brenda Simati, 15 and Tyreece Simati, 1, also died in the fire, despite desperate efforts to get the children out.
At the service today, mourners heard that Christmas presents were waiting for Taua and Mia's return home to Christchurch this month.
Their mother, Helen Adams, had not seen them since December 9 as they had been holidaying in Samoa before spending time in Auckland.
The girls' aunty, Christine Kemp, said although Taua and Evile knew what to do in the event of a fire, they would have been disadvantaged by the lack of a smoke alarm in the house.
It is understood one was in the house, but not operating at the time of the fire.
"Please use our tragedy as your lesson," Mrs Kemp said.
"And if you don't already have working smoke detectors in your home, please get them, especially if you have children."
"I believe part of being a responsible parent is to protect your children as much as you possibly can. Taua and Mia would be alive today if the smoke detectors were working."
