Police have named the 25-year-old woman who died as a result of a house fire in Paraparaumu yesterday morning.

The flatmate of a 25-year-old mother who died in a house fire in Paraparaumu last night has described how she tried to save her.

Dozens of firefighters are working to put out a blaze at a chicken hatchery in a rural area south of Auckland.

Firefighters have brought a blaze at an apartment block in central Auckland this afternoon under control.

Howls from a child trapped in a burning house compelled an 18-year-old neighbour to dash inside. "That was a cry that you would never hear in your life," said Wiremu Ropata, who was watching television at home and getting ready to go to bed

Police and fire safety officers are investigating a third suspicious fire in the Manawatu town of Feilding this year after a blaze at a hair salon overnight.

A woman who died in a Rotorua house fire early today would probably have been saved had the house been fitted with smoke alarms, firefighters say. Six occupants were taken to Rotorua Hospital for minor smoke inhalation. Two ambulances

Firefighter Merv Neil has won a New Zealand Bravery Award for his fearless work in the Waikato coolstore fire.