Fire strikes at Waipu house for second time

Photo / NZME.

A house that suffered damage in an earlier blaze was the scene of a suspicious fire last night.

The Fire Service was called to a property on State Highway 1, just south of Waipu, at about 11pm after a garage was set alight.

Fire Service spokesman Jaron Phillips said an adjacent house was burnt in a previous fire, although the first fire was not suspicious.

Last night's blaze spread from the garage and the framing of the house caught fire again.

Four appliances were sent to the fire, as well as a water-tanker.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Megan Ruru said the latest fire was being treated as suspicious.

Police and the Fire Service were investigating and staff from at least one of those agencies were due to visit the property this morning.