NZ- Up to 10 dead, 20 unaccounted, in fire at hostel, Newtown’s Loafers Lodge, 15 May 2023

[dotr]

'Worst nightmare': Up to 10 people dead in Wellington hostel fire, no sprinklers

Fifty-two people were rescued from the building on Adelaide Street.

www.nzherald.co.nz

''Urban search and rescue crews have started combing through the smouldering wreckage of a Wellington hostel where up to 10 people may have died in a horror fire overnight.

It has been confirmed by authorities this morning that there were no sprinklers in the building - and there are still 20 people unaccounted for.

Emergency services converged on Loafers Lodge hostel in Newtown just before 12.30am after a fire was reported on the third floor of the four-storey building.

The fire was well-involved and firefighters battled the flames as they engulfed the building''.

 

[MsMarple]

'Worst nightmare': Up to 10 people dead in Wellington hostel fire, no sprinklers

Fifty-two people were rescued from the building on Adelaide Street.

www.nzherald.co.nz

''Urban search and rescue crews have started combing through the smouldering wreckage of a Wellington hostel where up to 10 people may have died in a horror fire overnight.

It has been confirmed by authorities this morning that there were no sprinklers in the building - and there are still 20 people unaccounted for.

Emergency services converged on Loafers Lodge hostel in Newtown just before 12.30am after a fire was reported on the third floor of the four-storey building.

The fire was well-involved and firefighters battled the flames as they engulfed the building''.

Another fire that would have been controlled if a sprinkler system was installed. I don’t know about New Zealand but here in the US it only costs about 5k to install sprinklers. Heck, I have them in my own home. When will people learn?

In the meantime, condolences to those who lost loved ones.

 

[dotr]

'Worst nightmare': Up to 10 people dead in Wellington hostel fire, no sprinklers

Fifty-two people were rescued from the building on Adelaide Street.

www.nzherald.co.nz

''FIRE TRAGEDY AT WELLINGTON HOSTEL

* At least six people are confirmed dead and 11 remain unaccounted for after fire ripped through the Loafers Lodge hostel in Newtown overnight

* Police say the number of deceased is 'fewer than 10'

* FENZ has confirmed the three-level building had no sprinklers

* Firefighters arrived soon at 12.15am after reports of a blaze on the roof - they described the scene that confronted them as a 'worst nightmare'

* A total of 52 people were rescued, including five residents plucked from the roof''

 

[ifindedout]

Street view, latest one from November 2022:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[JennieM]

The hostel was mainly “short-long-term accommodation, mainly transient accommodation,” Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has just told RNZ.

The government is working on emergency housing for those who have been displaced, she said.

[...]

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has opened a Mayoral Relief Fund to accept donations from the public for those affected, Stuff.NZ reports.

“In crisis like this the generosity and community spirit of Wellingtonians is on full display and this fund allows us to provide support to people who have lost so much in this devastating fire.

“By donating to the Fund, we can ensure that people receive the immediate help they really need at this difficult time,” she said.

Wellington hostel fire live updates: six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand blaze – latest news

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he understands that six people have been confirmed dead in the fire at Loafers Lodge hostel, and that there are likely to be more

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

Brendon Nally, the Deputy National Commander of New Zealand’s Fire and Emergency services, is talking to RNZ.

“The building is quite significantly damaged,” he says.

There are still parts of the building that firefighters can’t access, he said, but engineers are assessing options. Parts of the roof have collapsed.

[...]

A number of people who work for the local health service were staying at the hostel, the Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Board told RNZ.

The spokesperson was not able to confirm how many of the board’s staff were living there. He said they were working to confirm which staff members were safe.

Wellington hostel fire live updates: six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand blaze – latest news

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he understands that six people have been confirmed dead in the fire at Loafers Lodge hostel, and that there are likely to be more

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

People nearby warned to close doors and windows​

There are six emergency crews onsite at the moment, RNZ reports, including an Urban Search and Rescue Squad with drone operators and technicians who are assessing the structure in order to try to find a safe way into the building.

“Once we’ve gained access to the building following structural integrity process, we will work on mopping up hotspots to allow for the investigation process,” District manager Nick Pyatt says.

“At this stage any cause of the fire or any other details around the circumstances of the fire are cannot be confirmed,” Pyatt told RNZ.

He also said that people nearby should keep their windows and doors closed to limit their exposure to the fire – they should also turn their air conditioning off and avoid touching materials from the fire, because of the asbestos risk. But the “health effects from asbestos released from fires is generally considered low risk,” RNZ reports.

Wellington hostel fire live updates: six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand blaze – latest news

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he understands that six people have been confirmed dead in the fire at Loafers Lodge hostel, and that there are likely to be more

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

Identifying victims will be 'complex and time consuming' says Chief Coroner​

New Zealand’s Chief Coroner, Judge Anna Tutton, has released a statement saying that identifying the victims will be “complex and time consuming”, RNZ reports.

“Coroners will be working hard with Police to ensure that the victims are identified correctly, to enable them to be reunited with their families as soon as possible. In the meantime, I want to reassure families that those who have died are being treated with respect and dignity by all those involved,” she said.

Wellington hostel fire live updates: six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand blaze – latest news

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he understands that six people have been confirmed dead in the fire at Loafers Lodge hostel, and that there are likely to be more

www.theguardian.com

 

[ZoriahNZ]

There is no excuse of not having sprinklers on every floor. What a terrible preventable tragedy. My condolences to the victims and their families.

 

[JennieM]

Nurses all accounted for – local media​

We reported earlier that nurses were staying in the hostel when a fire broke out. Stuff.NZ reports that they are now all accounted for, according to an unnamed source, and none are injured.

[...]

In a statement, police have asked people who were staying in the hostel or are looking for someone who was to contact them – “Police are using these reports, as well as other information from our community partners, to help determine who was in the building at the time and ensure their welfare,” they said.

The police added that there would be an update this afternoon on their progress:

Police are urging people who were staying in Loafers Lodge on Adelaide Road, Newtown in Wellington in recent days and are safe, or anyone concerned for someone, to please get in touch with Police. They are asked to call 105 and reference Operation Rose, or go online to 105 Police Non-Emergency and select the form “Something Else”, referencing Operation Rose.
Police are using these reports, as well as other information from our community partners, to help determine who was in the building at the time and ensure their welfare. We are aware of information circulating relating to number of deceased and number of unaccounted for, however, until more is known Police will not be in a position to confirm numbers. Police will provide an update on progress to date this afternoon.

Wellington hostel fire live updates: six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand blaze – latest news

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he understands that six people have been confirmed dead in the fire at Loafers Lodge hostel, and that there are likely to be more

www.theguardian.com

 

[realanastasia]

When I saw the word “hostel” I thought of the inexpensive lodging popular with young travelers, but this facility seems to have been used for more practical reasons than tourism. The Guardian report linked anove says many deportees from Australia were being housed in this residence and a few are unaccounted for:

”Deportee advocate Filipa Payne has told RNZ that there were a number of 501 deportees staying in the lodge, not all of whom are accounted for.

The 501 deportees are people who have had their Australian resident visas cancelled and have been sent back to New Zealand.

“I don’t believe they are all accounted, I believe from my information that there is one, possibly two, that are unaccounted for,” Payne told RNZ.

“These are people who have been through a lot of trauma and have been really displaced in this country and stuck in accommodation because they were vulnerable and had nowhere else to go.”

 

[JennieM]

Hostel building recently passed fire inspection​

New Zealand’s Housing Minister, Megan Woods, says the hostel building passed a fire inspection conducted in February this year.

“Under the Building Act, a building such as this was not required to have sprinklers,” Wood told RNZ.

“So this building complied with all its obligations that it needed to fulfill as a building as recently as early this year - it was inspected in February, and issued with its BWOF on the third of March.”

Six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand fire – as it happened

This blog is now closed. You can read our full story on the fire here:

www.theguardian.com

I find this quite shocking

 

[MsMarple]

When I saw the word “hostel” I thought of the inexpensive lodging popular with young travelers, but this facility seems to have been used for more practical reasons than tourism. The Guardian report linked anove says many deportees from Australia were being housed in this residence and a few are unaccounted for:

”Deportee advocate Filipa Payne has told RNZ that there were a number of 501 deportees staying in the lodge, not all of whom are accounted for.

The 501 deportees are people who have had their Australian resident visas cancelled and have been sent back to New Zealand.

“I don’t believe they are all accounted, I believe from my information that there is one, possibly two, that are unaccounted for,” Payne told RNZ.

“These are people who have been through a lot of trauma and have been really displaced in this country and stuck in accommodation because they were vulnerable and had nowhere else to go.”

Apologies for not understanding. Was this private lodging or government lodging?

 

[JennieM]

Apologies for not understanding. Was this private lodging or government lodging?

The government previously used it as an emergency housing provider, but it it is not currently listed as such:

'The hostel has previously been contracted as an emergency housing provider in New Zealand, and where the housing crisis means a growing number of homeless people are housed long-term by the government in motels and hostels, but New Zealand Prime Minister Hipkins said the hostel was “not currently being used as emergency accommodation”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Hipkins said the fire was “an absolute tragedy”.

“It is a horrific situation. And in the fullness of time of course there’ll be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened.”

He said the hostel was “not currently being used in emergency accommodation”.

“But my understanding is that there will be a number of Ministry of Social Development clients.”

It was named by the Ministry of Social Development in a list of emergency housing providers released in 2021. Social service agencies including Wellington City Mission have said they had clients housed in the building, which advertises itself as providing affordable long and short term accommodation."

Six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand fire – as it happened

This blog is now closed. You can read our full story on the fire here:

www.theguardian.com

 

[MsMarple]

Hostel building recently passed fire inspection​

New Zealand’s Housing Minister, Megan Woods, says the hostel building passed a fire inspection conducted in February this year.

“Under the Building Act, a building such as this was not required to have sprinklers,” Wood told RNZ.

“So this building complied with all its obligations that it needed to fulfill as a building as recently as early this year - it was inspected in February, and issued with its BWOF on the third of March.”

Six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand fire – as it happened

This blog is now closed. You can read our full story on the fire here:

www.theguardian.com

I find this quite shocking

I’m sick of reading about buildings that weren’t required to have sprinklers which burnt down with loss of life. There’s no reason except for financial to get a pass for safety. Those of you who followed the Oakland Ghost Ship fire know that a building with no sprinkler system is nothing more than a death trap.

 

[JennieM]

I’m sick of reading about buildings that weren’t required to have sprinklers which burnt down with loss of life. There’s no reason except for financial to get a pass for safety. Those of you who followed the Oakland Ghost Ship fire know that a building with no sprinkler system is nothing more than a death trap.

Can't agree more. It seems in politicians' eyes some people's lives are worth the risk of loss. I bet they don't live in buildings with no sprinklers. They are lucky they have a choice. Many people don't.

 

[Kemug]

Not saying this is at all the case here - but when there have been fires in aged hostels and cheap boarding houses in the past, it has often been because of someone smoking in bed.

 

[JennieM]

Ministerial Statements — Loafers Lodge Fire—Newtown, Wellington​

Ministerial Statements — Loafers Lodge Fire—Newtown, Wellington - New Zealand Parliament

Hansard editors report what politicians say in the House of Representatives. Here you can read our near-verbatim reports on all debates, including oral questions and proposed laws (bills).

www.parliament.nz

 

[JennieM]

Wellington hostel fire live updates: Up to 10 dead in fire at Newtown’s Loafers Lodge​

16 May, 07:54 am
‘You wouldn’t stay there unless you had very few options’

'Worst nightmare': Up to 10 people dead in Wellington hostel fire, no sprinklers

Fifty-two people were rescued from the building on Adelaide Street.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[JennieM]

Mayoral relief fund

A Wellington Mayoral Relief Fund has been established to accept donations from the public and organisations, following an outpouring of offers of help.

Deposits can be made via the Wellington City Mission and tagged to the Loafers Lodge fire.

Wellington City Council will contribute $50,000 to the fund.


Asbestos

The roof of Loafers Lodge contained some asbestos material and small pieces of the cement containing asbestos fibres are present in the area immediately surrounding the damaged building. This material will be kept damp until removed preventing asbestos fibres being released into the air. Asbestos fibres are not considered a health risk unless they are present in the air.


Wellington Regional Hospital

• Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley is asking people to avoid coming to Wellington Regional Hospital unless they are in need of urgent or emergency care.
• This is because road closures following the Loafers Lodge fire have limited access to the hospital.

News and information - Newtown Fire – Wellington City Council update, Tuesday 16 May – 5pm - Wellington City Council