Praise for crew’s actions as police launch arson inquiry

An investigation has shown that the fire that extensively damaged the old garage and service station in Whakato Road at Manutuke on Monday afternoon was deliberaely lit, and police have started an arson inquiry. Picture by Liam Clayton

Police have an arson inquiry under way after fire gutted the former Oxbrow service station and garage in Whakato Road at Manutuke on Monday afternoon.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) crews from Gisborne and Manutuke were called to the scene at around 2.45pm.

The building was fully involved when the first crew — Manutuke volunteers — got there.

The four-person crew were able to stop the fire from reaching a home located only five metres away and have been praised for their actions.

Specialist fire investigator Tim Allan was called in to examine the scene.

“The cause was definitely suspicious,” he said

“It looked like the fire was deliberately lit by someone at the rear of the building.”

Police have started an arson inquiry and would like to hear from anyone who noticed suspicious activity near the building on Monday afternoon.

The garage has been unoccupied since the late 1970s-early 1980s.

■ A fire that destroyed a two-bedroom home at the Waima end of Tokomaru Bay on Monday afternoon was started by unattended cooking.

The blaze broke out late that afternoon.

Specialist fire investigator Tim Allan said the house was a total loss. “It started in the kitchen area and the cause was unattended cooking,” he said, “Fortunately there were no injuries.

FENZ continues to push the “keep looking while you are cooking” message.

“It only takes a brief distraction from cooking for a fire to start; whether it’s a phone call, something interesting on television, a bathroom break or your tamariki wanting your attention.

“Once a fire starts, it spreads very quickly and a house fire can become deadly within just a few minutes.”

More than one in four house fires starts in the kitchen, FENZ says.

“If you need to step away from the stove, even just for a moment, make sure you turn it off until you get back.”

FENZ also points to the need to have working smoke alarms  in homes.