Man arrested after spate of suspicious fires

File photo / NZ Herald

A man is in custody after three separate fires were lit 500 metres apart in Canterbury in the early hours of this morning.

The fires occurred around 7am on McLaughlins Rd in Darfield, Southern Fire Communications shift manager Andrew Norris said.

"One was a tractor, one was a couple of trees and one was a shed on a farm.

"They were all about within 10 to 15 minutes of each other," Mr Norris said.

"The first fire was the largest of them and that was a farm building containing some hay and several vehicles."

A man was later apprehended by police as he walked along a rural road and is now in custody at Christchurch Police Station, Mr Norris said.

"He was seen by the firemen in the distance walking, which is unusual in a rural area.

"Normally you just have drunks in the city setting fire to rubbish bins, but this man was in the country."

The fires have since been extinguished, Mr Norris said. Three fire engines and three tankers attended.