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The man who died in a house fire in east Auckland on Tuesday was Wiremu Arapo, 27.
Detective Sergeant Craig Bolton said a local kaumātua performed a karakia in the direction of Cockle Bay on Wednesday.
east fm / Supplied
Arapo died in a house fire in East Auckland on Tuesday.
“We extend our thoughts and condolences to Wiremu’s whānau at this difficult time,” Bolton added.
After contacting fire investigators, police are not treating the fire as suspicious.
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Arapo’s death will be referred to the coroner.
DAVID BLANCO / THINGS
The charred remains of a house fire in Cockle Bay where Wiremu Arapo died.
After the fire engulfed the suburban home, two other people were taken to Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland.
On Wednesday, a local fire service commander said Arapo was found near a door, but could not say whether the 27-year-old had been trying to escape or had returned to the home.
Neighbor Mike Rowse said he heard repeated small explosions when the fire broke out Tuesday night.
“It didn’t take long to lose control,” he said.
As fire raged through the house, Rowse saw a distraught, shirtless young man strolling outside.
“He called, saying there was someone inside the house.”
The rental residents had only been there about a year, Rowse said.
Chris Delfos, the Manukau Counties Area Fire Service Assistant Commander, said he didn’t want to jump to conclusions about how the fire started.
“We need to know why it happened and make sure the message gets to people about how fast and how dangerous fires can be,” Delphi said.
“For us, every fire in a house is a failure, especially when there is a fatality.”
