The Star: July 16, 2020

The Star Thursday July 16 2020
4
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
‘Chaos’ as deadly fire destroys house
• From page 1
The description of the page
reads: “Your donations will help
the family of Brayden and Arianna
cover funeral costs and help them
get back on their feet without
the financial burden that will
accompany this horrific loss.”
The father and four children
were the only occupants of the
house when fire broke out.
At a press conference
yesterday, Fire and Emergency
NZ assistant area commander
Mike Bowden said Brayden was
rescued from the
burning house but
he died at the scene
shortly after.
Mr Bowden
described
Eddie
Rodden
the bedroom
Arianna was in as
“unsurvivable” and
said the fire could
have taken just three minutes to
spread.
He said the house had smoke
alarms, which helped the father
and two other children escape.
A neighbour, whose house backs
onto the damaged property, said he
heard screams and the crackle of
flames at 10.30pm.
He quickly rushed out of bed
and grabbed his garden hose,
pointing it towards the burning
house.
The man said he saw the fire
crew carry a young boy out of the
burning house last night.
Two others in the home when
the fire broke out were taken to
hospital for treatment.
Fire investigator Wayne
Hamilton was at the scene on
Wednesday to determine the cause
of the fire. He said the investigation
will continue until Friday.
Neighbour Eddie Rodden
described the fire as “chaos, really”.
He said he woke to noise and
the smell of smoke, and he looked
outside to see two ambulances
and police.
Three fire crews arrived to
find the single-storey home well
involved.
Another Vivian St resident,
who wanted to remain
anonymous, captured footage of
the fire, which can be viewed on
StarNews.co.nz and said he feared
for his own safety.
He was one of the first people
to phone 111 and said “there was
really a stress and a panic.”
A St John spokesman said
two ambulances and two rapid
response crews were called to the
burning home.
Two people were treated at the
SUPPORT: The community
and emergency services are
banding around the family
who lost two of its children
in the Burwood house fire
on Tuesday.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
To donate to the Givealittle
visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/
cause/brayden-and-arianna
scene and taken to Christchurch
Hospital. One fire crew remained
at the scene on Tuesday night to
monitor hot spots.
Christchurch-based charity Gifts
of Love and Strength is taking
voucher donations for the family,
which can be dropped off at Little
Explorers Preschool on Vivian St.
- Additional reporting
NZ Herald and RNZ.
THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION
AND REFERENDUMS
What’s your view on:
Commercial film or video
production facilities
in Christchurch
Your enrolment
update pack
is coming.
Let us know your views on the proposal to use section 71
of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016
to make changes to the Canterbury Regional Policy
Statement and Christchurch District Plan to support the
development and operation of commercial film or video
production facilities in certain areas of Christchurch.
The Proposal, developed by Regenerate Christchurch,
has been submitted to the Associate Minister for Greater
Christchurch Regeneration who is seeking your views.
Anyone can make a written comment –
they must be received by 5pm Wednesday, 5 August 2020.
The proposal can be viewed and written comments made
online at: www.dpmc.govt.nz/film-studio
Also, the Proposal can be viewed and written comment
forms are available at Christchurch City Council service
centres and libraries, and the main office of Selwyn and
Waimakariri District Councils during normal business hours.
Open it to check
your enrolment
details and to
learn more about
the referendums.
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