six dead, 11 missing after Wellington fire

[Lilith7]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...atest-news

[b]"11 people unaccounted for[/b]

We have an update now on the number of people still accounted for after a fire at a hostel in Wellington, New Zealand.
Brendon Nally, the Deputy National Commander of New Zealand’s Fire and Emergency services, has just told Stuff.NZ, that emergency services are still searching for 11 people.
He said firefighters had saved “several dozen” people.


Loafers Lodge resident Tamrat Isse Ada said he has lost everything except his jacket and phone. He has been living at the lodge for the  

past year. He happened to be going to the toilet when he realised there was a fire, he told Stuff.NZ.

“There was smoke and the alarm was going from upstairs,” he said.

“When I come from the toilet there was smelling everywhere, smoke ... people running everywhere. I just jumped to my room, and I take my jacket and my mobile, that’s it.” He escaped down the stairs and out the door. He could see nothing in the dark.
“The alarm they keep going every week, two times, three times, there’s no good management there,” he said.

Emergency services are still expecting that “up to 10” people have died, Hipkins said.

He added that it is expected when crews enter the building that the number will rise.

Marie Murphy, the hostel’s property manager, has described the mix of residents.

“We’ve got everyone living there. We have nurses. We’ve had doctors, nurses, unemployed people, meat workers, hospital staff. All sorts of people. A real variety of people,” she told Stuff.NZ."

[nzoomed]

Very tragic, not the sort of thing we hear about in this country at all, likely we will see fingers pointing everywhere for whos to blame.

[harm_less]

Latest reports are that the fire is being regarded as arson, which makes it a potential multiple homicide. A couch that was burning a couple of hours prior to the main fire does sound very much like a firebug was at work.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4900...e-as-arson

[Lilith7]

Yes it doesn't sound at all good.

[nzoomed]

Latest reports are that the fire is being regarded as arson, which makes it a potential multiple homicide. A couch that was burning a couple of hours prior to the main fire does sound very much like a firebug was at work.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4900...e-as-arson

None of it really adds up to me, was this a couch on the street outside or inside the building? Looks like the fire started in the top floor.
If its arson, perhaps the couch was set on fire as a distraction? Either way they much have pretty good evidence to suggest it was arson this early on.

[harm_less]

Latest reports are that the fire is being regarded as arson, which makes it a potential multiple homicide. A couch that was burning a couple of hours prior to the main fire does sound very much like a firebug was at work.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4900...e-as-arson

None of it really adds up to me, was this a couch on the street outside or inside the building? Looks like the fire started in the top floor.
If its arson, perhaps the couch was set on fire as a distraction? Either way they much have pretty good evidence to suggest it was arson this early on.

I did catch mention of "accelerant" a couple of days back. Didn't hear enough to get the context of the comment (i.e. witness or investigator theorising) but if they caught a whiff of this possibility it would definitely initiate an investigation.

[Lilith7]

Latest reports are that the fire is being regarded as arson, which makes it a potential multiple homicide. A couch that was burning a couple of hours prior to the main fire does sound very much like a firebug was at work.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4900...e-as-arson

None of it really adds up to me, was this a couch on the street outside or inside the building? Looks like the fire started in the top floor.
If its arson, perhaps the couch was set on fire as a distraction? Either way they much have pretty good evidence to suggest it was arson this early on.

I think I  also heard that the couch which was on fire  was outside, though I may have that wrong.

[nzoomed]

None of it really adds up to me, was this a couch on the street outside or inside the building? Looks like the fire started in the top floor.
If its arson, perhaps the couch was set on fire as a distraction? Either way they much have pretty good evidence to suggest it was arson this early on.

I think I  also heard that the couch which was on fire  was outside, though I may have that wrong.

Yeah the details seem a bit vague, but thats the way i took it too.

[Lilith7]

I think I  also heard that the couch which was on fire  was outside, though I may have that wrong.

Yeah the details seem a bit vague, but thats the way i took it too.

I suppose eventually they'll have more idea of what's happened there - awful to think it was deliberate.

[harm_less]

Yeah the details seem a bit vague, but thats the way i took it too.

I suppose eventually they'll have more idea of what's happened there - awful to think it was deliberate.

This interview on RNZ today would tend to lend weight to the likelihood that the Police are on the right track in respect to the individual appearing today in court on arson charges.

[zqwerty]

Newtown fire update: Man charged with two counts of arson

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/...cmin=&cmax=

[Lilith7]

Definitely looking deliberate then, poor people.

[zqwerty]

Police provide update on operation ‘Rose’ | nzherald.co.nz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3tuKgzO0pU

Loafers Lodge evacuee talks to the NZ Herald | nzherald.co.nz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ai_cQq04KQ

Absolutely watch this.