Gas concern in fire at Valentines

Police and fire safety officers are investigating a blaze at Napier's Valentines restaurant early today.

Napier fire station officer Ray Bryan said they were called out at 4.40am to the restaurant on the corner of Tennyson Street and Milton Road.

"There was a fire in the back part of building, to the side of the kitchen," he said.

"The flames went right up into the ceiling where there was a lot of stuff stored. That all burned and collapsed."

He said there was concern when a group who had gone inside smelled gas.

"They could smell it later on, once they took the breathing gear off.

"You wouldn't expect to find a gas leak in a building like that. They don't normally happen on their own unless something has been left on."

The gas company was contacted and the supply cut off.

Mr Bryan said most of the building had been saved but was "totally smoke-logged".

- NZPA