Flowers for fire victim

Flowers and cards were left for the family who lived in the Maxwell St house on Durie Hill that was extensively burned early on Tuesday afternoon. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

Flowers and cards were left at the gate to the home of the 32-year old Wanganui mother who perished in the Durie Hill house fire on Tuesday afternoon.

A front room of the Maxwell St house was gutted and there was extensive damage to the rest of the house.

Detective Sergeant Philip Taylor said the investigation was in its early stages and the cause of the fire was still to be determined.

Mr Taylor said the coroner's requirement was to establish the cause of death of the woman, and yesterday a post-mortem was being carried out to establish how she died. Until that was completed, police were unable to confirm her identity. The woman was the sole occupant of the house at the time.

Meanwhile news of the woman's death prompted inquiries from people on the Chronicle's Facebook page wanting to offer assistance.

Kyley Filer posted that she was keen to donate and was also going around friends and family. Bobbie Fantham also volunteered some good quality children's clothes.

Others posted their expressions of sympathy to the family.

Whanganui Police and the Whanganui Fire Service were back inspecting the house yesterday and the property was being guarded by security.

Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the fire or noticed anything suspicious in the area at the time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Whanganui Police on (06) 3490600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.