Ethiopian woman died of house fire in New Zealand

Auckland's Ethiopian community is devastated after a recent immigrant died in a house fire in Waterview yesterday morning.

Meme Tsige Woldeysus and her young son - believed to be around five or six years old - had high hopes of setting up a new life in New Zealand when they moved here a year ago.

Tragically firefighters discovered Woldeysus' body in a bedroom of her Saxon St home while fighting a blaze there about 10.30am.

The woman's family and the local Ethiopian community are in shock.

"The family are in the grieving process. They are in shock and [are] devastated - the whole community is," said Danyet Shiferaw, president of the Auckland Ethiopian Community.

"When we come to New Zealand, we have a lot of dreams we hope to achieve. It's very devastating."

The 33-year-old's son will receive trauma counselling through Waterview Primary School where he is a student.

Principal Brett Skeen said the woman's son was pulled out of class and collected by relatives after the fatal fire.

"The school will provide trauma counselling through the Ministry of Education to students and teachers, as well as access to qualified trauma counsellors from Avondale," he said.

Mekonnen Melese Tafete, who lives nearby, said his son and daughter attended the same school as the boy.

"She was a very friendly, smiling lady. I don't know her well, but she was always very friendly at the school," he said.

"I am very sad for her and what happened. When I heard about the fire I went there and the police told me she died in the smoke."

Fire crews were called to the blaze after being alerted by neighbours.

Firefighters initially thought no-one was home.

Fire Service assistant area commander Paul Turner was leaving the scene when the officer in charge called him back after finding Woldeysus body.

Fire investigators and police are yet to determine how the fire started.

Nearby resident, Glen Rabadan-Miles, was one of the first on the scene and said flames were coming out the windows.

The 34-year-old stood behind a tin shed while helping fight the blaze and said it took quite a while to get it under control.

''I saw black smoke and I knew it was a house fire. There was a smell like burning plastic. I jumped in my car and came straight here. I said to a neighbour, 'Where's your garden hose?'

''I grabbed it and turned it on full blast - it started to die down. I was scared the windows were going to shatter. I felt a bit useless against big flames like that.''

Three fire crews from Avondale, Te Atatu and Glen Eden fought the blaze.

Shiferaw said Woldeysus' family and the Ethiopian community were "grateful" to the police and fire crews who attended the scene.

- Auckland Now