Suspicious fire destroys abandoned building in Levin, Bath St closed

An abandoned building close to the centre of Levin has been razed in a suspicious fire this morning.

Calls began coming in about the fire on Bath St from 3.48am. The two-storey building was well-involved when crews arrived.

Fire and Emergency central shift manager Karen McDonald said the building, which was abandoned and scheduled for demolition, had been “totally destroyed”. Fire crews had prioritised protecting surrounding properties.

No one was in the two-storey building at the time but the fire is deemed suspicious and a fire investigator will return later today. One crew also remains at the scene and will be there for most of the day.

Locals will also see smoke for much of today, McDonald said.

A section of Bath St remains closed but one lane is due to open before 8am.

At its height the fire reached a third alarm, with six fire appliances, a ladder truck and a command unit attending. Crews came from Levin, Otaki, Foxton, Paraparaumu and Palmerston North.