All the hallmarks of arson

STRONG SUSPICIONS: Fire investigator Craig Bain examining the remains of the garage that was destroyed by fire.

Police and the Fire Service agreed on Sunday that the fire that destroyed a residential garage in Bonnett Road, Kaitaia bore all the hallmarks of arson.

"Put it this way, there doesn't appear to be anything accidental about this," fire investigator Craig Bain said.

The first of two Kaitaia Fire Brigade appliances arrived at the address within four minutes of the alarm being raised at 2.33am, but the garage was beyond saving by that stage. The walls were still standing by the time the fire was extinguished but nothing was left to salvage, although the crews did prevent all but very minor damage to the house.

"It was a very good save," Detective Sergeant Trevor Beatson said as he surveyed the scene later that morning. The rented house, which had been vacant for several days, showed nothing more than a little bubbling of paint and minor damage to spouting.

Deputy chief fire officer Craig Rogers said the power at been turned off at the mains, eliminating the potential for an electrical explanation for the blaze.

Detective Sergeant Beatson (phone (09) 408-6500) said he would be pleased to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious, or had any other information that might help the inquiry.

Meanwhile two appliances were dispatched to the address next door moments after Mr Bain arrived to examine the garage, when smoke was seen rising from the roof of a flat. The owner of the property said his tenants were cooking chips, which turned out to be the case, the firefighters' only job being to use a blower to get rid of the smoke.

There was a better outcome at Herekino on Saturday night, where the occupants of a house extinguished a fire before the brigade arrived. Mr Bain said the fire started in a wall in the pantry, filling the house with smoke. The occupants had been awake when it started and no one was hurt, although significant damage was done.

Mr Bain added that it had not been difficult to determine the cause of the fire.

"Rodents and wiring don't mix," he said.