Baby's death in blaze followed power cut-off

GISBORNE - A baby died in a fire at his family's rented home three days after the electricity had been cut because of non-payment of bills, a coroner's court has been told.

The family had been using candles since Contact Energy disconnected the power last November 16.

Gisborne coroner Allan Hall found that Anthony Reihana Hoani, aged 9 months, died from asphyxiation.

Mr Hall recommended, privacy laws permitting, that Contact inform landlords whenever it was about to disconnect a tenant's power.

Anthony's mother, Lisa Eyles, a domestic purposes beneficiary, re- ceived a letter from Contact on November 4 saying her power would be cut off if an outstanding sum of $297 was not paid within seven days.

The firm disconnected the power on November 16, said Constable Catherine Jones.

She told how she arrived at the blazing house at 1.20 am on November 19 and learned a baby was still inside. Ms Eyles, Anthony's 3-year-old sister and teenage aunt were evacuated.

At 2 am, firefighters found Anthony's body. It was badly burned and identification was impossible.

Four smoke alarms had been installed in the two-bedroom Housing New Zealand property a year beforehand.

Constable Jones said the family had been cooking meals at a neighbour's house and using candles for lighting.

Ms Eyles said she had ensured all candles were out before going to bed. She discovered the fire in the kitchen and tried to put it out while her sister went next door for help.

Fire safety officer Sue Trafford said the fire started on a stereo above a table in the kitchen.

Ms Eyles told her she had been using candles on plates since the power was cut off. There was no trace of candle wax on plates, said Mrs Trafford.

Ms Eyles also said she and her daughter had made candleholders out of Lego pieces the previous day.

Mrs Trafford said the plastic bricks might have contributed to the fire.

"Candles were involved in the fire, but we do not know exactly how the fire started."

Ms Eyles told Mrs Trafford she just woke up rather than being awoken by the smoke alarms.

Mrs Trafford believed the alarms had been disabled.

"We did not find four smoke alarms, let alone four batteries."

It was not uncommon for Housing NZ properties to have smoke alarms vandalised or batteries removed because of false alarms, she said. Had the alarms been working, the family would have been warned earlier.

Bob Rasby, of Housing NZ, said the alarms in both bedrooms, the hall and the lounge had been installed the previous November and had a life expectancy of 10 years.

All Housing NZ rental properties had smoke alarms installed in them about that time, he said.

Tenants also received brochures with instructions on how to test the alarms and other advice.

- NZPA