The scene of the fatal house fire in Martinborough. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
Community mourns after house fire takes a life
One person died and another suffered smoke inhalation in a house fire on Monday on White Rock Rd near Martinborough.
Sirens wailed across Martinborough in the early hours of the morning as emergency services were called to the fire on the road opposite the entrance to Romina Way shortly after 1am.
Fire, police, and ambulance personnel attended the incident.
The house was completely destroyed in the blaze. The charred remains of the home with its blackened chimney were all that were left after the fire at the isolated rural property. The house was slightly set back from the road, adjacent to some paddocks and did not have immediate neighbours.
Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said one of the occupants managed to escape to a neighbouring property, but a second person was later found to have died.
South Wairarapa Mayor Alex Beijen visited the scene on Monday morning. He said the incident was a real tragedy and thanked the emergency services.
“Our thanks to all Fire, Ambulance and Police teams who assisted with the fire fighting and response.”
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were alerted to the fire just after 1am, with the first crews on the scene 10 minutes later.
“They found the property fully involved with fire,” the spokesperson said.
Five fire engines and two tankers from Carterton, Masterton, and Martinborough attended the blaze.
A spokesperson for Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed they were called to the incident at about 1am and took one patient to Wairarapa Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
The fire was not initially being treated as suspicious, but a scene examination was under way on Monday.
Fire and police remained at the scene during Monday as investigations continued.
