A grieving Christchurch grandmother "faces the weight of organising two funerals" after a blaze tore through her home, killing her daughter and young granddaughter.
Emergency services were called to the home on Whitehall St in the suburb of Mairehau at around 8.25pm on Thursday.
In an update on Friday evening, Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan confirmed the three-year-old and, later in hospital, the mother had died. The girl's siblings – aged between 10 weeks and five years old – were also taken to hospital.
Five people – including four children under the age of six – were injured. (Source: 1News)
'Now it's our turn to wrap around her'
In a Givealittle appeal, a relative of the family described the children's grandmother, Shiree, as "the rock of our family, always putting others first."
"Even in this fog of grief, she is caring for two of her remaining grandchildren who have lost their mother," they said.
"However, the path ahead is daunting. Shiree is on a pension and was uninsured. She has walked away with nothing but the clothes on her back."
Material losses were nothing compared to the loss of "two precious lives", they said.
Funds would be used to cover funeral and headstone costs, essential items for the four children in her care, and to secure a new home.
"Shiree is usually the one helping others; now, it’s our turn to wrap around her."
As of 11am on Saturday, more than $23,000 had been raised for the family.
"Three of the surviving children have been discharged and are in the care of family members. One child, a girl aged two years old, remains in hospital in a stable condition, with moderate injuries," police said.
Neighbours praying for family
Neighbour Surendren Subashchandrabose had been at work when the fire broke out, and came home to find the road blocked. He said he was "so worried" when he found out about the blaze.
"I'm just praying for them to be safe," he said about the family. He described having seen them out and about and going for walks.
Noel John Jabiguero, who also lives nearby, said he was driving home at around 9pm when he saw "heaps of police cars".
"I drove past, and I saw smoke and stuff."
He said it was "really sad" to hear someone had died in the blaze.
"I didn't expect this to happen."
The cause of the blaze was yet to be determined, though police said it was not believed to be suspicious.
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