Investigation into cause of fatal fire continues

The investigating is continuing in to the cause of a house fire in Foxton this morning that claimed two lives, but early indications are that the fire is not suspicious.

The fire occurred around 2.15am at a house in Hulke Street. Neighbours were able to pull one 24-year-old woman to safety through a window but were unable to reach a 22-year-old woman and a 3-year-old child.

The survivor was the mother of the child and the 22-year-old woman who died was a visiting friend.

Detective Senior Sergeant Marc Hercock said: "It is still too early to determine the exact cause of the fire and a number of possibilities are being looked at, but fire investigators are telling us that there is nothing at this stage to indicate to them that it was started deliberately. We will continue to work closely with them until the scene examination is complete and we have the results of the post mortem so that we can provide the Coroner with some comprehensive findings."

This afternoon approximately 50 family and friends converged on Hulke Street to pay their respects and say a karakia before the bodies of those who died were removed to Palmerston North Hospital.

Formal identifications are expected to take place later today.