Masterton sleepout fire claims life

Archie Aihe Huirama Ormsby junior, 44, who died at the scene of a blaze that gutted his Cameron Cres sleepout late on Wednesday night.

Family, neighbours and firefighters fought in vain to save the life of a Masterton man they dragged near death from a blaze that gutted his Cameron Cres sleepout.

Paikea Te Whare, who lives next door to the home of Archie Aihe Huirama Ormsby junior, said his barking dogs had woken him just before 11pm on Wednesday.

He went outside and saw thick smoke billowing from the garage that Mr Ormsby, 44, had long used as a sleepout. Mr Te Whare told his mother to call emergency services, he said, before vaulting the fence between their properties to where Archie Ormsby senior was wrestling with the metal door to the sleepout and calling to his son.

"I saw old Archie trying to open the door. He was shouting hard and crying because it just wouldn't open. I couldn't hear anyone inside and when I kicked the door in, he was right there," Mr Te Whare said.

"They dragged him out but there was nothing else we could do. We were all in shock."

Another neighbour and a younger brother of Mr Ormsby junior also joined in the rescue and despite the immediate resuscitation attempts of firefighters, Mr Ormsby junior died at the scene.

Mr Te Whare said his late neighbour had been "a good man, a good fullah" who had been quiet and kept to himself.

Masterton Fire Service station officer Garry Nielsen said firefighters had been unsuccessful in their attempts to revive Mr Ormsby, who neighbours and family had bravely rescued in the face of mounting danger.

He said Mr Ormsby senior had burned his hands in the rescue attempt and received initial treatment at the scene before being taken to Wairarapa Hospital. He was discharged soon afterward, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Firefighters also treated for smoke inhalation the pair of neighbours who helped in the rescue, Mr Nielsen said, including Mr Te Whare.

Mr Nielsen said the tragic death of Mr Ormsby highlighted the need for smoke detection alarms in sleep-outs and other similar alternate accommodations that are becoming more widely used throughout New Zealand. "Accommodation is getting more expensive - here and across the country - and whether it's a bach or cabin or a sleep-out, smoke detection alarms are vital."

A security guard was posted overnight outside the scene and the family held a blessing ceremony at the house yesterday morning. Police and fire service have launched a fire investigation to establish the cause of the blaze.

Archie Ormsby junior will lie in state at Te Ore Ore Marae in Masterton from tomorrow afternoon and a funeral service will be held at 11am on Monday followed by burial at the Ahipanipani urupa.