One dead, three injured after fire at Burnham military camp

One person has died after a fire at a housing block at Burnham military camp, just outside of Christchurch.

Police and fire investigators have been at the scene all day and will return on Thursday to determine the cause of the fire, detective sergeant Brent Menzies says.

“The body of the deceased has been removed from the property,” he said, but the identification process would take some time.

The death has been referred to the coroner.

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said they were called just after 2am on Wednesday, and the housing block was well ablaze when crews arrived.

Forty firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which was extinguished by mid-morning. Crews remained on the scene.

Hato Hone St John said paramedics treated four patients and took three to Christchurch Hospital.

One person was in a serious condition and two in a moderate condition.

Police and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) confirmed one person died. Officers were on-site, guarding the scene.

Forty firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which was extinguished by mid-morning.
Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

Burnham Camp Commandant Major Julie Richardson said they could not comment at this stage whether the four burnt houses were occupied by NZDF personnel.

While housing at Burnham Military Camp was owned by the NZDF, some was occupied by NZDF personnel and some was tenanted by non-NZDF personnel. Houses occupied by non-NZDF families were managed through commercial property managers.

“Our thoughts are with the whānau who have lost a family member, and all of those impacted by today’s fire,” Richardson said.

Support was being provided to all those affected, she said.

The aftermath of a house fire in Rangiora, Christchurch.
Photo: Sally Murphy / RNZ

Firefighters have also extinguished a house fire in Rangiora, north of Christchurch, in Waimakariri District.

FENZ were called to the scene about 4am and found the property ablaze. The house was unoccupied at the time.

The house on Southbrook Road is connected to a homicide investigation.

The property had been searched by police investigating the death of Richard Leman, whose body was found in his car parked in a garage in Tyler Street in April 2023.

The blaze was under control, but firefighters were still working to fully extinguish the fire, FENZ said.

Police at the scene of a house fire in Rangiora, Christchurch.
Photo: Sally Murphy / RNZ