Arson suspect too young to be charged

An 11-year-old suspected arsonist is too young to be charged after a block of shops nearly burned down in the Coromandel town of Whitianga last week.

Patrons at a nearby bar heard a smoke alarm in a real estate office and noticed the glow of the fire at the rear of the office about 8pm last Wednesday.

Fire safety officer Todd O'Donoghue said had it not been for the smoke alarm the fire could have ripped through the block of shops, including a flat where a woman was living.

He said the rapid spread of the fire surprised patrons in the bar but volunteer firefighters were present within two minutes and extinguished it out as the flames spread into the office and the flat.

He said the smoke detection system prevented a major loss.

Sergeant Andrew Morrison from the Whitianga police said an 11-year-old was being dealt with by the police youth aid section and CYFS.

He was too young to be charged with an offence and it was not known if he would be put into a foster home rather than be allowed to stay with his family.

- NZPA