Rugby club fire raises suspicions

Firefighters could not save the shed, but did prevent the flames from spreading to other buildings. Photo / Peter Jackson

Fire investigator Craig Bain had not looked at the remains of a corrugated iron shed at Te Rarawa Rugby Club's home field at Ahipara at edition time yesterday, but there were suspicions as to what had started it even before it had been extinguished.

Bain and police from Kaitaia were due to examine the scene yesterday afternoon.

The fire destroyed the shed and contents, including a truck load of ti-tree firewood, on Sunday afternoon, the Ahipara and Kaitaia fire brigades responding just after 2pm.

There was nothing the crews could do to save the shed, but they pulled sheets of iron away to open it up for the hoses, preventing major damage to another small shed on one side and any damage to the main clubrooms building, immediately adjacent on the other.

Kaitaia's deputy Chief Fire Officer Ross Beddows said the shed had not had electricity, which eliminated one major potential explanation, but the word at the scene was that children had been seen running shortly before the alarm was raised.