Neighbours say screams were heard when a house in Burwood went up in flames Tuesday night. Video / ODT / Supplied
A devastating house fire in Burwood, Christchurch, has claimed the lives of an 8-year-old and his baby sister.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand assistant area commander, Mike Bowden told the Herald it is believed four children and their father were inside the property when the fire started.
According to href="https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/brayden-and-arianna" target="_blank">a Givealittle page, the father, identified as Des, heroically saved two young children.
He was injured re-entering the burning house in a desperate attempt to save Brayden and baby Arianna.
Last night, a devastating house fire claimed the lives of 8-year-old Brayden and his 9-month-old sister, Arianna. Photo / Supplied
"Your donations will help the family of Brayden and Arianna cover funeral costs and help them get back on their feet without the financial burden that will accompany this horrific loss," the page reads.
Fire and Emergency southern fire shift manager Jill Higgison said emergency services received multiple calls about the fire just before 10.45pm on Tuesday.
Four fire crews arrived to find the single-storey home ablaze.
An unnamed neighbour said it was just "devastating".
"We heard screaming and then just all the flames, we tried to get the hose out to try and help."
The cause of the blaze is yet to be confirmed and the Fire Service believe an investigation will continue to at least late tomorrow.
Emergency services at the scene last night. Photo / Chris Lynch
A man and four children were in the house when the fire broke out.
Another neighbour, whose house backs on to the property, says he heard screams and cracking from flames at 10.30pm.
He quickly rushed out of bed and grabbed his garden hose, pointing it towards the burning house.
The neighbour said he heard screams from a male and children.
He also believes he saw fire crew carry a young boy out of the damaged house.
Higgison said some occupants were able to escape the blaze but two were unable to be rescued.
The Fire Service spokesman also believes fire alarms were installed at the property and contributed to the survival of the father and two children.
A St John spokesman said two ambulances and two rapid response crews had been called to the burning home.
NZ Gift of Love and Strength a Christchurch-based charity is taking donations for the family, which can be dropped of at the local Little Explorers Preschool.
A source who knows the family says they are "over-run" with support.
