Police are appealing to the public for information after a suspicious fire at a residential address in Upper Hutt, two nights after a woman died at the same house.
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
The house, on Bridge Road in Birchville, was hit by two separate fires, the second of which is being treated as suspicious.
The first fire took place shortly before 2am on Thursday 12 August.
Police said the resident of the house, Margaret 'Terri' Fordham, died in the fire.
"Mrs Fordham was asleep in her upstairs bedroom with her dog Daisy when the fire started," police said.
"She woke during the blaze and was able to call for help. Her neighbours and the fire service attempted to rescue her by ladder but were unable to get to her.
"Mrs Fordham was able to throw her dog to safety before her death."
Just two nights later, neighbours were woken around 3am by another fire at the same address.
"This time the upstairs area was fully-involved and significant damage was caused," police said.
"No one was in the house at the time of this fire."
Police said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined but they are treating the second fire as suspicious.
"This is a really tragic situation in which a much-loved mother and friend has lost her life," Detective Sergeant Sam Mercer said.
"We want to hear from residents of Bridge Road, or Birchville, who heard or saw anything suspicious on the nights of these two fires. Especially those with CCTV which might capture the routes in and out of the area.
"The public may hold information which could help us identify the person who lit the second fire."
Police are encouraging anyone with information to contact them by calling 105 and quoting file number 210812/6583