Firefighters who responded to Wellington’s fatal hostel fire more than two years ago, have given emotional testimony at the High Court in Wellington.
It’s the second day of the trial for the man who’s said to have started the blaze at Loafers Lodge on May 16, 2023.
The 50-year-old, who has name suppression, is charged with two counts of arson and five of murder, for killing Michael Wahrlich, Melvin Parun, Peter O’Sullivan, Kenneth Barnard and Liam Hockings.
It’s expected he’ll pursue the defence of insanity.
A 50-year-old man is accused of lighting the Loafers Lodge blaze, killing five people. (Source: 1News)
Several Fire and Emergency NZ staff members cried in the witness box while recounting their response that night, and the risk to their own lives.
Some were later seen hugging family of those who died in the blaze, and survivors.
‘The heat was unbearable’
The first firefighter to enter the building detailed how he could feel his “ears burning from the extreme heat”.
Brady Cutting told the jury, conditions were changing rapidly.
“The heat was unbearable, that we were essentially lying on the floor, simply trying to protect ourselves and we could not go forward at all.”
He explained he was radioed by another firefighter, “that a large piece of debris was falling from above and had fallen on him”.
Fire and Emergency NZ Station Officer, Joshua Leceve recounted seeing a thermal imaging camera which “just showed white”.
“This means that it’s extremely hot. It’s well over a survivable temperature.”
He said he stood up to get a sense of where he was, as he couldn’t see anything, and hit his head on the ceiling.
“When I touched the ceiling I could feel the heat through my glove and had to pull my hand away. I gave it a little push and there was a bit of movement. I believe that this was structural instability.
‘Signs of combustion’
“This caused me great concern and I thought there was a significant risk of a structural collapse,” he added.
While taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he noted the walls were also “starting to show smoke”.
“This happens when the temperature is so high that the walls were showing signs of combustion without a flame present.”
As a result, he felt they needed to withdraw.
Other officers felt the same, including Mark Powell, also a Station Officer.
“The heat was rising, the smoke was intensifying and it got darker.”
He said he started seeing what they call “dancing angels”, explaining that’s a spark or ignition in the smoke.
He said firefighters call this a “flash over” or “roll over” and, even in full fire equipment, it’s a very dangerous environment to be in.
“There is little to no chance of survivability for a person, not in firefighting gear, when caught in a flash over,” Powell noted.
Soon, all firefighters were told to get out.
FENZ Assistant Commander Martin Wilby told the court: “I know this decision may have altered the number of deceased, but I had to make decisions to protect my staff.”
Powell said the decision to withdraw made made just in time.
“Essentially, as soon as we got down to the second floor, the fire flashed over. This could be seen from the ignition, which is essentially a boom.”
With a long list of occupants still unaccounted for, he later returned to the third floor, in search of bodies and immediately found one.
“It was clear this man had come through the mezzanine which had collapsed.”
Confusion about mezzanine floor
Mark Powell also recounted the moment he first learnt there was a mezzanine floor in the five storey building.
“We got a message across the radio from the communication centre of people being stuck on a mezzanine floor.
“This is the first mention of a mezzanine floor and we had no idea where it was,” he told the court.
The five people who died were all on that level.
The trial for the man accused of their murders continues.
