Police name woman killed in house fire

Police have named the elderly woman who died in a Northland house fire.

Winifred Coxshall, 92, died in the blaze on Tetio Road in Umawera, 45km southeast of Kaitaia, this morning

Fire Service northern communications spokesman Mike Lister told NZPA the family of the woman, who lived in a granny flat about 400 metres away, were woken by the sound of their dog barking and alerted the Fire Service about 2.11am.

But by the time fire crews arrived at the scene the house was well ablaze and there was nothing which could be done to save her.

Fire safety investigators were still investigating the cause of the blaze.

- NZPA