The tragedy occurred late last night.

Monstrous fires approach home of NZ ambassador to the US.

Firefighters at Timaru blaze have called for backup.

CCTV footage shows the police presence outside Madras Street.

Residents forced to flee and a state of emergency declared as fire rage across California.

Insurance companies have faced record payouts for weather-related damage across NZ.

Firefighters battled two industrial blazes overnight.

The fire service is at a huge blaze in Ashburton.

Helen Lee lost her home in a raging bush fire but is positive for the future

Police would like to hear from anyone who may recognise scooters left at the school.

A classroom fire at Auckland's Green Bay Primary School is being treated as suspicious.

A car used in an aggravated robbery has caught fire to​day at the intersection of Great South Road and East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe.

Black smoke can be seen in Papanui as emergency services deal with a fire in a building.

A neighbour raised the alarm after Stratford home burst into flames.

Helen Lee talks about the bush fire that destroyed her Coromandel home last summer.

Roads are likely to remain closed for most of the day after the suspicious fire.

Supplied by Juliet Moses

Two people have died after being hit by trains in separate accidents this morning.

Cockle Bay resident Martin Mackenzie talks about the value of smoke detectors. Video / Peter Meecham

A fire that burnt down a historic homestead in Mangere East is being treated as arson.

Phillips said fire crews were alerted to the fire around 5.40pm.

Fire investigator is furious, says it's time for a public debate over fireworks.

Glenn Menzies, Assistant Area Commander comments on the fire on Queen Street, this morning.

Auckland's Queen St is closed in both directions between Mayoral Dr and Karangahape Rd because of a fire. / Supplied by Vinay Kumar & Goran Saveski

Auckland's Queen St is closed in both directions between Mayoral Dr and Karangahape Rd.

A huge blaze is ripping through an apartment building in Manhattan, New York City, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky. / Supplied by Kevin Clamato

NZ's worst fire tragedy was a scandal of failures as 41 people were incinerated.

The alarm was raised just after 9.30pm.

A fire at Whangaparaoa College started in a sawdust disposal bin.

Saturday 18 November 2017 is the 70th anniversary of the Ballantyne's fire in Christchurh (18 Nov 1947). It remains New Zealand’s worst fire tragedy. / Teara - Archives NZ