The scene of a fatal house fire on a property on Papakura Clevedon Rd on June 27. Photo / Brett Phibbs
A fire which killed an elderly man in Ardmore was likely started by an electric blanket he had wrapped around himself.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the cause of the fire, which broke out in the early hours of Wednesday morning had not been confirmed, but an electric blanket,
the remains of which were found in a chair, was the most likely cause.
The man was known to wrap the blanket around himself to relieve lower back pain.
The remains of a second electric blanket and an electric heater were also found in the fire ruins.
Fire and Emergency national adviser for fire risk management Peter Gallagher said the death was a tragic reminder to people to take care combating winter chills.
