Children playing with lighter cause of fatal West Auckland blaze - police

65-year-old Tesimale Kisona was a well-known member of the Tuvaluan community in West Auckland. Photo / Facebook

A fire that claimed the life of a respected member of the Tuvaluan community in West Auckland is believed to have been caused by children playing with a lighter.

Tesimale Kisona, 65, died at the scene after trying to save children in the unit which caught fire last night.

Emergency services were called to Swanson Road shortly after 5pm yesterday after reports of a house fire.

The cause of Mr Kisona's death has not yet been confirmed.

Police have just revealed that the fire was caused by a child playing with a lighter.

"This is a tragic set of circumstances and the welfare of this child and his family is paramount.

We have systems in place to ensure that both the child and his family have any support they need in the coming weeks and months" says Detective Sergeant Mike Clubb, Waitakere Police.

"This is a terrible reminder of just how important it is to keep matches and lighters away from young kids.

Every time we discover that a fire has started this way, our hearts just sink" says Gary Beer, Senior Fire Risk Management Officer, Waitemata Fire Area.

Victim support are now helping the Kisona family.