Jonathan Asafo's efforts to warn residents of a house fire may have saved a life.
The young father was taking his 3-year-old son to daycare when he drove past a house which was fully engulfed in flames on Freshney Pl, in Hill Park.
"I quickly raced back to the driveway and I started beeping my horn just to warn everybody," Asafo told Newshub.
Asafo then raced to neighbouring properties, ensuring everyone was out of harm's way.
"I raced to the back to see if there were any survivors, by then the top floor was already covered in flames, flames were coming out and smashing the windows."
A survivor came out of the property, a man Asafo described as being in his 20s with severe burns to his arms and hands.
"The skin was pretty much ripping off, pealing off his hands," Asafo said. "He was the only one asleep downstairs, he said the beeping off the horn, and the smell smoke woke him up."
He said that there were two people upstairs who didn't make it out of the property.
"I think [the survivor] tried to go upstairs, but there was no way he could have gotten up there."
When asked if Asafo realised it was his tooting that saved the man's life, and if that made him a hero, he said he wished he could've done more.
"I wouldn't say saved," Asafo said. "I just wished we could've done something for the other two."
Hato Hone St John said the survivor was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.
Firefighters spent about an hour extinguishing the fire.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE ONGOING
The survivor told Asafo he believed the blaze may have been caused by the fireplace.
Speaking to media at the scene, Fire and Emergency Assistant Commissioner Brendon Irwin said two fire investigators are working alongside police to determine the cause.
He did issue a reminder to ensure fireplaces are in working order ahead of winter.
"If you've got a wood burner, just ensure that you've got it swept at this time of year, ensure that you have a guard around if you've got children and pets and turn the damper down before going to bed at night," Asst Cmmr Irwin said.
Asst Cmmr Irwin confirmed two people had died in the fire.
Police have asked the public to stay away from the area while investigations are carried out.
