Family remembers victim of Waitara, Taranaki house fire

The investigation into the cause of the Waitara, Taranaki, fire is ongoing. Photo / RNZ, Emma Andrews

By RNZ

A family member recalls a man who died in the Waitara house fire as “gentle, nice and wouldn’t hurt a fly”.

A man was killed on Friday morning in a house fire in Taranaki.

Emergency services were called to the scene in Browne St at 7.30am.

Police said the man, who they believe is the sole occupant of the house, died at the scene before they arrived.

The body remains inside the flat and will be removed in the next few hours.

One resident of the street drove past and saw the house was “sparking”, drove around the block and returned to the house in flames.

A whānau member said the house “went up like a matchbox”.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

- RNZ