Investigation into Christchurch fatal fire begins, details about victim emerge

An investigation has started into a house fire that killed an elderly woman following multiple blazes at a Christchurch home yesterday.

Investigators arrived at the charred property on Camrose Pl, Ilam, this morning.

Three firetrucks, mobile fire units and red tents were dotted around the property as crews set up.

Investigators arrived at the charred property on Camrose Pl, Ilam this morning. Photo / NZME

Staff wore protective gear as they walked through the property’s remains.

Blue tarp has been stretched across the blackened section of the house where flames reached in the second ignition.

There are at least 10 fire staff on the ground today.

Fire staff confirmed to the Herald they would likely be at the scene of the property for the rest of the day.

The circumstances of how the blaze started are the centre of the incident, which police have deemed not suspicious.

The victim was revealed to be 88-year-old woman Thelma Durant, her family confirmed to Stuff yesterday evening.

The Herald understood she was the sole occupant of the house. Her body was found by police after the initial fire in the early hours of Tuesday and was removed later that afternoon.

Fire staff will likely be at the scene of the property for the rest of the day. Photo / NZME

The woman had a son, but neighbours said she largely kept to herself.

Fire and Emergency arrived when the initial blaze sparked shortly after 3.30am, crews engaged in active firefighting to extinguish the blaze.

Fire crews had left the scene by 7am; however, the blaze reignited inside the home half an hour later, with white smoke billowing out of the property and filling the street.

Appearing as fog, houses to the right of the home were engulfed in the thick smoke as the wind blew it through.

Fire and Emergency arrived when the initial blaze sparked shortly after 3.30am. Photo / NZME

Several neighbours across from the property stood outside their homes, some wearing dressing gowns, to witness a repeat of the early morning’s action.

Detective Wells said anyone who might have relevant information to help inquiries are urged to call police on 105 and quote the file number 230222/9020.

The day prior, another home in Christchurch also caught blaze - this time in Linwood, in the east.

The incident prompted a heavy police turnout. Officers were seen making statements as smoke poured out of a number of open windows.