The search for answers around yesterday's fatal fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington is continuing today.
Fire and Emergency NZ region manager Bruce Stubbs told Breakfast the job facing fire crews was "very difficult".
"We train for these types of things, but you hope that you don't ever have to face something like this," he said.
Stubbs said the number of bodies recovered remains at six this morning. Eleven people remain unaccounted for.
"What we were doing last night was ensuring that the scene is secure," he said.
"We did some structural work to ensure that when we hand over to police later this morning, we can support them and our own fire investigation team to do the next stage which is further in-depth investigation."
Police are the lead agency when it comes to the identification process, Stubbs added.
Police are expected to enter the building for the first time today, for an "extensive and methodical" scene examination.
Police are also reviewing CCTV footage from the area around the hostel, Inspector Dion Bennett said this morning.
"Being able to enter the building is obviously a critical step in our investigation, and I am grateful to our FENZ colleagues for their work to ensure we are able to access the building safely so quickly after this significant fire," Bennett said.
Asked if there was any understanding of the cause of the fire yet, Stubbs said: "No. Way too early to determine that."
He could not confirm reports of a second fire earlier in the night.
And when asked if sprinklers would have made a difference, Stubbs replied: "Yes."
Victims 'among our most vulnerable'
Wgtn city missioner Murray Edridge said the recovery process is going to be "a long journey". (Source: Breakfast)
Wellington city missioner Murray Edridge told Breakfast "yesterday was a very difficult day".
"These are among our most vulnerable in the community," he said.
"For the moment, people have had some of their needs met, but this is going to be a long journey for the community and a long journey for these individuals, both in terms of their practical needs but also in terms of the impact of the trauma."
Edridge said many people living in the hostel were in the care of the city mission and other agencies already.
Multiple people died in a blaze that broke out at a Wellington hostel just after midnight. (Source: Seven Sharp)
"Their lives were already quite difficult," he said, adding the question of long-term accommodation is "incredibly difficult".
"What I would say though is, in the midst of all this tragedy, we've seen the community step up."
Corrections confirmed this morning that it has now accounted for all nine people who were on a community sentence or order and were living at the lodge.
'Outpouring of aroha' in fire's wake
Mayor Tory Whanau and Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds joined Breakfast to discuss the blaze. (Source: Breakfast)
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau and Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds also joined Breakfast today to discuss the blaze.
Whanau said there has "been an outpouring of aroha" in the fire's wake, later adding that the "city is currently grieving".
She said the mayoral fund set up to assist victims had raised more than $70,000 so far.
Asked how long the investigation would take, Edmonds said: "As long as it needs to be.
"It needs to be a thorough and very considered investigation," she added.
"I understand that [the lodge] was compliant with the building code."
Edmonds also said sprinklers would help "in any fire situation" and that she is "open to considering anything at this point", including potential law changes, depending on the results of the investigation.
Political reaction to the fire
National Party leader Christopher Luxon has offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the fire.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Luxon said he was at the scene yesterday where he spoke with residents and fire crews.
"There were some horrific stories of residents getting out of that building but also some incredible bravery from our fire service there and our first responders."
He said there will come a time where a thorough review needs to be undertaken.
"I think it's important to understand what's changed since the Auckland Convention Centre fire to make sure that our fire service has all the equipment that they need."
It comes after Prime Minister Chris Hipkins yesterday said the fatal blaze was "an absolute tragedy".
"It is a horrific situation and in the fullness of time of course there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened, but for now the focus has to be on dealing with the situation," he said.
"At this early stage I would never rule out doing something extra in terms of review.
"I want to acknowledge that this would have been an incredibly traumatic event to respond to for our first responders."
SHARE ME