A rural fire station on Auckland's west coast burned to the ground early today.
The Bethell's Beach Volunteer Fire Brigade station caught fire about 5am. Firefighters from surrounding stations could not save it.
A near-new rural fire truck inside the station was left a charred shell.
It is estimated it will cost up to $500,000 to rebuild the 15-year-old station, property and equipment.
Fire investigators were this morning trying to figure out what caused the fire and could not rule out arson.
Investigators had to wear protective suits because the station's ceiling had asbestos in it.
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