Fire looks to have started in laundry

The fire that extensively damaged a Kāinga Ora flat in Maude Street in Kaiti on Tuesday morning remains under investigation but it appears to have started in the laundry area at the rear of the two-unit building. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

The cause of the fire that extensively damaged one of two flats in a Kāinga Ora unit in Maude Street off Wainui Road on Tuesday morning remains under investigation.

Fire and Emergency NZ crews were able to save much of the front section of the flat, but the rear, where the fire started, was gutted.

Specialist fire investigator Derek Goodwin has been looking into how the fire started and said yesterday it remains undetermined.

“We have established that the fire started in the laundry area at the rear of the flat.

“But why and how it started has yet to be firmly established,” Mr Goodwin said.

“Kāinga Ora are working to rehouse the family who lived in one flat, and also the person who lived in the other flat.”

Firefighters said a strong firewall between the flats saved the adjoining flat from fire damage, though there was some smoke damage.

“I understand Kāinga Ora are looking at their options for the future of the building.”