Claims a couch was set on fire inside the Loafers Lodge just hours before the blaze that left at least six people dead have not yet been confirmed, but will be investigated.
It’s been reported by media in Wellington that some inside the gutted hostel suggested an earlier fire started at about 10.30pm on Monday night, triggering the fire alarms and a brief evacuation. It was then at about 12.30am that firefighters were called to what quickly became a deadly inferno inside the Newtown residence.
So far, police have not confirmed a second fire actually occurred – but they will be looking into it, reports Stuff. The outlet understands that “the suggestion that couches were set alight shortly before the building erupted in flames is central to the police investigation into the fire”. Police have remained fairly coy on what the investigation will involve, but the fire is being treated as suspicious.
Today’s edition of The Bulletin has all the details on what is known so far ahead of what will be an extensive investigation by emergency services.
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