Fire rages for four hours, destroys home

Police and fire services attend a blaze at Okahutiria Rd, Waverley. The fire took four hours to extinguish. Photograph by Bevan Conley.

A house was fully engulfed in flames in Waverley yesterday and raged for four hours before fire services put out the blaze.

A police spokesperson said the fire was on Okahutiria Road, Waverley and the building at the scene was extensively damaged.

Fire Service spokesman Murray Dunbar said they got a call out at 11.59 from someone passing by. Two appliances attended the blaze but found the house had collapsed when they got there.

Dunbar did not know if the incident had resulted in a fatality.
The property was totally destroyed.

"I can't confirm whether there was someone in the building or not. It was a pile of rubble."
Dunbar said no one was in the vicinity when the fire appliances arrived.

Waverley Fire Station chief Alan Hickford said fire services from Hawera and Taranaki also attended the blaze.

"Hawera responded initially with the Hawera water tanker. But because of where it was we couldn't get vehicle access to it. Taranaki rural fire crews came in and helped us out."

He said the fire was extinguished at 4.30pm.

Police were called to assist during the incident.

Detective Craig Jackson said they arrived at the scene mid afternoon, and there would be an investigation into the incident.

"Obviously its a bit hard out here, with no neighbours for miles," he said.

Security guards would be maintaining watch over the area.

Location

* Story updated 20/12/2016 - Photo caption amended to correct road.