Man charged with arson after Newmarket and Epsom fires

A Newmarket shop was damaged after an early morning fire on Sunday. Photo / Hayden Woodward

A man is due to appear in the Auckland District Court following two fires earlier in the day.

Police said they were notified at about 6.10am with a report of a building on fire at Kent St in Newmarket.

When investigating the incident, it was found that the fire was believed to be related to an earlier fire that occurred at a business address on Manukau Road in Epsom in the morning.

Police said no injuries were reported at either of the fires and a 36-year-old man was arrested a short time later in relation to both fires.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it attended both incidents, the first being notified in Manukau Rd at 5.26am where six appliances tackled a fire on the ground floor of a building.

The second incident was reported at 6.07am at a commercial building in Newmarket, where a showroom was on fire. Seven appliances attended.

Fire investigators attended both incidents and Fire and Emergency is no longer at the incidents.

Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas said the fire damage to the babywear business, Dimples, appeared to be minimal and well contained.

He said the store was temporarily closed, adding that Dimples is a popular store with customers from all over New Zealand.

“We wish the Newmarket team a speedy recovery and hope they are open as soon as possible for the busy shopping season ahead,” Knoff-Thomas said.

The man will appear in court on two charges of arson.

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