Teenage boy dies after basement fire

A 14-year-old boy is dead after a house fire in the Waitakere City suburb of Massey last night.

Firefighters found the boy with serious burns in an area underneath the house in Fernhaven Place after the fire was put out.

They tended to him until the ambulance arrived. Ambulance personnel tried to revive him, but he died before he could be taken to hospital.

Firefighters believe the fire started where the boy was found. They said it was too early to say how it began.

It is understood a young woman was upstairs in the house, but she escaped safely.

The basement area was apparently badly damaged, but the house is still intact.

A dog belonging to the family was burned, but ran away.

The SPCA was last night searching for it.