Mother in critical condition following Maraenui house fire; children uninjured
A mother is in a critical condition at Hawke's Bay Hospital following a fire that engulfed the Kāinga Ora house she and her two children were living in.
Three fire trucks, police, three ambulances and a rescue helicopter responded to the fire, on the corner of Lister Cres and Lister Pl, just after midday.
Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter General Manager Ian Wilmot said a woman in her 30s was "pulled from the house" and flown to Hawke's Bay Hospital with "critical injuries".
A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said they treated two patients in a mild condition on scene.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Area Commander Ken Cooper said on arrival the fire was well-developed.
As it was a Kāinga Ora home, it had been fitted with working smoke alarms which helped alert the occupants to the fire. That, coupled with knowledge of what to do in the event of a fire, helped.
"The children managed to evacuate because the smoke alarm was sounding so they were at the letterbox when the crews arrived," Mr Cooper said.
A senior fire investigator had been on the scene, and they were trying to determine the cause.
Although Mr Cooper says their focus is to ensure the welfare of the family is taken care of.
