Fire tragedy in Wellington budget hostel
The devastating fire at Loafers Lodge hostel in New Zealand is reminiscent of the Childers Backpacker hostel fire in Queensland where numerous lives were lost
Early, last Tuesday morning more than 80 Wellington firefighters were called to a devastating blaze that ravaged the city’s 92-room Loafers Lodge hostel. The tragic incident echoes the Childers hostel fire in Queensland in 2000, which was a wake-up call for the Australian accommodation industry and a somber reminder of the paramount importance of fire safety.
The Wellington fire broke out on the top floor of Loafers Lodge hostel on Adelaide Road, Newton just after midnight, New Zealand police have since confirmed five deaths, arson is being investigated and a homicide inquiry has commenced.
Update: A 48-year-old man has been charged over the fatal Loafers Lodge fire in New Zealand and appeared in court in the Wellington District Court last Friday. He was charged with two counts of arson – one relating to a couch fire in the hostel earlier on Monday evening and a second relating to the fatal fire that broke out two hours later.
Officers are not seeking anyone else in relation to the blaze, Inspector Dion Bennett said in a statement.
“Police have not ruled out further, more serious charges in relation to the deaths at the scene,” Bennett said. The man has not been named.
At the time of the fire, it is understood the 92-room hostel was booked to capacity. The hostel is described on its website as “Wellington’s most convenient and affordable accommodation option” and “the best place to stay if you’re looking for affordable long-term accommodation in Wellington”.
It is reported to have provided accommodation for people including construction workers, hospital staff and those serving sentences in the community for minor crimes. Vulnerable city residents are also reported to use the accommodation to escape cold nights.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he believed there were also a number of shift workers and Ministry of Social Development clients inside.
Julie White, Chief Executive Officer at Hospitality New Zealand said: “This is a police matter and we are not in a position to be able to comment.
“We will be very interested in their findings but at this stage, there is nothing factual we can comment on that isn’t speculation.
“We are more than happy to work with the government on any legislation changes that come from this event, as our priority is to look after our people.”
According to ABC News, Loafers Lodge was issued a Building Warrant of Fitness in March of this year and there were no concerns raised by the independent qualified person who inspected and tested the life safety systems in the building.
However, one hostel resident told local news site RNZ the alarm had been triggered manually by a resident, not by smoke alarms. Residents told reporters fire alarms would regularly sound in the building, possibly from people smoking or from overly sensitive smoke monitors, so many had initially thought it was another false alarm.
Repeated false fire alarms over time may have reduced the sense of urgency among residents. Some residents also said that alarms did not go off on some floors of the hostel.
On Wednesday, Loafers Lodge director Gregory Mien told a reporter from ABC News – Emily Clark there was no arrangement with emergency services about false alarms. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau also faced questions over the false alarms and whether the city’s most vulnerable people should be living in this standard of accommodation.
As Ms Whanau fielded questions about how many other buildings across her city were in a similar condition and how many people were at risk of dying in the only home they can afford.
Emergency officials said the building had no fire sprinklers, which Mr Hipkins confirmed was not required in New Zealand’s building code for older buildings that would have to be retrofitted.
Chillingly this incident has similarities to a fire at the Childers backpacker hostel in Queensland.
On June 23, 2000, a backpackers’ hostel in Childers, Queensland, was destroyed by a deliberately-lit fire. Eighty-eight people occupied the hostel at the time of the fire; fifteen died. The deceased were travellers from England, Holland, Ireland, Korea, Japan and Australia.
In response to the fire, new legislation was introduced in 2002 requiring all budget accommodation buildings to prepare and implement Fire Safety Management Plans.
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Mandy has over 17 years of accommodation and tourism industry writing experience and is Editor of AccomNews & Resort News, Publisher of SchoolNews & Director of Multimedia Pty Ltd. She is a retired registered nurse with a 25-year NHS career that followed a few unforgettable years in hotel housekeeping.
