Child dies in house fire

A 15-month-old child has died in a house fire in Morrinsville, Waikato, this morning.

Two fire appliances arrived at the house in Cureton Street just after 7.00am to find it fully ablaze.

Inspector Ian Brooker said: "Three adults and three children had escaped from the house but one other young child is confirmed to have died in the fire."

Firefighters who recovered the infant's body from a bedroom said the house appeared not to have lifesaving smoke alarms.

Assistant regional fire commander Keith Fraser said smoke alarms would porbably have given enough time for everyone to have got out safely.

Police and the Fire Service are investigating the cause of the blaze.

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF, NZPA