six dead, 11 missing after Wellington fire

[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.