Investigation after fire rips through house in Wairoa, damages neighbouring home

The house had been vacant for several years. File photo / NZME

Investigations are continuing after a Wairoa house fire grew so large it came close to damaging a neighbouring home.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Apatu St about 7pm on Friday.

The house, which had been vacant for several years, was significantly damaged in the fire. No injuries were reported.

On Monday, police confirmed the cause was still being treated as “unexplained” and inquiries were ongoing.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said homes in the area, including the neighbours, evacuated as the fire spread.

Seventeen firefighters and five fire trucks attended from Wairoa and Manutuke volunteer brigades.

Wairoa deputy chief fire officer Te Aroha Cook said were it not for the speed with which they were alerted to the fire, they would likely have had two houses significantly damaged.

She said they managed to get on scene quickly and contain damage to “the sunroom” of the neighbouring house, which suffered fire damage outside but only heat and smoke damage on the inside.

“Two or three minutes more and there was potential for it to have been two full house fires.”

An elderly couple lived in the neighbouring home.

Detective Inspector Marty James, district manager criminal investigations, said police and Fire and Emergency NZ carried out a scene examination on Saturday.

“At this stage, we are satisfied the fire is not connected to any gang-related incidents that occurred in Wairoa earlier this month.”

On Thursday, Eastern District Police were issued a Gang Conflict Warrant following several incidents stemming from ongoing tensions between Mongrel Mob and Black Power.

A significant operation is under way across Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, including in Wairoa.

The Gang Conflict Warrant is issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act and gives Police special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons and vehicles, James said.

“While we do not believe the Apatu St fire is related to those tensions, police will continue to have a highly visible presence in the Wairoa community, and in communities around the Eastern District.”