Arson attack on Gisborne funeral home

Firefighters arrived in time to stop the fire taking hold at Evans Funeral Services on the corner of Wi Pere St and Ormond Rd, but there was some smoke damage caused to a family room in the complex. It is being treated as arson. Photo / Murray Robertson

Firefighters arrived in the nick of time to stop a fire in its tracks at Evans Funeral Services early on Sunday morning. The incident is being treated as arson.

Police have an inquiry under way into the fire which shocked Evans staff.

“Is nothing sacred anymore?” Evans managing director David Parker said to the Gisborne Herald yesterday.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent two appliances to the business on the corner of Ormond Rd and Wi Pere St at around 5.30am on Sunday.

They were alerted by fire alarms in the complex.

“The fire had started against a wall on the ground floor at the rear of the complex, on the Wi Pere St side,” a senior firefighter said.

“We were able to put it out before it could spread and cause significant damage.

“As it was, the fire caused fire damage to the wall and there was smoke damage caused to an adjacent family room.

“The cause was suspicious and we called police in.”

The fire started against a wall at the rear of the complex, adjacent to the family room Evans' provides for grieving families.

The area around the seat of the fire was taped off yesterday as police continued their investigation.

The occupants of a residence in the complex were woken by the alarms and got out safely without injury.

Parker said the incident had distressed and dismayed them.

“The services that Evans has provided to the community over the years since it was founded in 1908, and then something like this happens.

“Family members have said to us it was like an attack on their home as well because they have had so many members of their families looked after at Evans over the years.

“The fire was within a couple of minutes of going up big time, so we were so lucky the FENZ crews were able to get there so quickly to stop it, and we really appreciate their great work.”

Funeral service owner David Parker said the fire was only a few minutes away from "going up big time" and they are extremely grateful for quick work by firefighters.

There were loved ones “in care” at the funeral home at the time of the fire, but they were “all safe and secure”, Parker said.

Police want to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of Evans at around the time of the fire.

Contact police on 105 or via Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

“We are following positive lines of inquiry in relation to this incident,” a CIB spokesman said yesterday.