Fire destroys kiln

A fire, described as the worst in the town in three years, destroyed a hop kiln shed in Motueka on Sunday morning.

No one was inside the shed at the time and firefighters took about 40 minutes to get the blaze under control, Chief Fire Officer Mike Riddell said.

The building, owned by Northwood Hop Company, contained five kilns and associated processing equipment, as well as part of the season's harvest, all of which was lost, the Nelson Mail reported.

The fire was not being treated as suspicious, Mr Riddell said.

- NZPA