A 23-year-old mother has died following the house fire in the Christchurch suburb of Mairehau, in which her three-year-old daughter was also killed.

Emergency services were called to the home on Whitehall Street just after 8.25pm on Thursday.

The three-year-old girl died at the scene.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said “the woman previously reported to be in critical condition after last night’s fire in Mairehau has now sadly died. Police’s thoughts are with her family, and we will continue to provide them with support. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Police had earlier said she was not expected to survive her injuries.

Four other children, aged between 10 weeks and five years old, were admitted to hospital after the fire.

All are siblings of the girl who died.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said three of the surviving children had been discharged and were in the care of family members.

“One child, a girl aged two years old, remains in hospital in a stable condition, with moderate injuries,” Carolan said.

Carolan said the fire was not being treated as suspicious, but enquiries by police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand were ongoing, including a scene examination.

“An increased presence will remain in the Whitehall Street area while enquiries continue,” she said.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the whānau, and Police extend our deepest sympathies as they navigate this devastating time,” Carolan said.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, told chrislynchmedia.com they first noticed the fire while playing a computer game at home.

“I saw the orange. It was small at the time,” they said. “I told my son to go to my bedroom and watch his tablet for a bit. Stepped outside and heard someone yelling and another voice screaming.”

The neighbour said they called 111, even though they assumed others already had.

“But being so close I wanted to call myself just for the reassurance. The man on the phone said that a few people had called and they were already on their way.”

“Within 5 minutes the whole house was ablaze. It was a terrifying sight,” they said.

“I was worried that I would have to wake up my two younger daughters and run them down to my parents’ house. Kept watching the fence to see if it was coming alight. I could hear the neighbour’s garage windows blasting out from the heat.”

“It was not long after that, that I heard the sirens. They didn’t stop for a while. There was so many sirens and cars arriving.”

“The only real thing that helped stop the fire spreading was that metal fence.”

The neighbour said they did not know the family personally.

“I see them walk past my house every day taking their children to preschool while on the school run myself. I hope they pull through.”