Teen died in house blaze trying to help friend

A teenager is dead after it was understood he became trapped after going into a burning house to help a friend.

Eight others were injured in the early morning Christchurch incident, emergency services say.

Neighbours have spoken of a group of teenagers screaming in the street as the blaze seriously damaged the home.

Emergency services were called to the Medina Crescent property in Parklands at 4.10am.

A St Johns southern ambulance communications spokeswoman said eight of the house's occupants were taken to Christchurch Hospital.

They suffered minor to moderate injuries including smoke inhalation.

Screams heard by neighbours

Neighbour Julie Stechmann was woken by explosions and screaming.

"It was just awful, by the time we got there the fire was throughout the house, there was a lot of panic and confusion."

Stechmann believed the fire started in the kitchen and dining area and that everyone was asleep in the bedrooms when it broke out.

"They were woken by the smoke detectors and they thought everyone was out."

"The young boy went back in to help and they thought he had come out - they thought they had the headcount right."

A woman and her three teenage children, two girls and a boy lived at the property.

It is understood she took in foster children and others with nowhere to stay.

Specialist Fire Investigators at the scene of a fatal fire. Photo / Herald on Sunday / David Alexander

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he was woken by noise.

"I poked my head out of the window to see what was going on, and I could see what was going on alright - there was smoke coming out the house and you could see the flames."

He could see there was nothing he could do, so called the fire service.

A group of teenagers were on the road, "screaming and carrying on".

A hearse had this morning carried the body away, he said.

Another neighbour, who also did not want to be named, woke to the sound of screams.

Her husband tried to get into the property, but the heat beat him back.

The house was engulfed in flames when they went to see what they could do to help.
"It was amazing, it was scary."

The smoke was think and strong and had lingered through the morning, she said.

Southern fire communications shift manager Rewai Grace said the single storey property was well involved by the time the first crew arrived.

"We were told there was somebody missing, but unfortunately at 4.26am they reported that there was one deceased at the property."

A police spokeswoman said the house was "extensively damaged" from the blaze.

Police and fire authorities were at the scene investigating the incident.

The death has been referred to the coroner.

- with additional reporting by The Herald on Sunday