Masterton arsonist strikes again

Photo / File

A serial arsonist has hit a Masterton street for the second time this year and police fear he is watching while neighbours and emergency services fight the blazes.

Fires were set at three houses on Gordon St overnight on Sunday. Two of the houses had been set alight in February.

Senior Constable Bob Hooker and Detective Mike Smith were examining the scene yesterday.

Mr Smith said emergency services received three calls on Sunday night, at 11.35pm, 12.20pm and 1.30am.

"That has indicated that he hasn't gone too far afield, we've had someone lurking in the area," Mr Smith said.

The arsonist set fire to vegetation inside sections, within metres of the houses while the residents slept.

Neighbours rushed out to help, using hoses and fire extinguishers, while they waited for firefighters to arrive.

Mr Smith said the three fires are connected.

"There are concerns, obviously, it's not isolated so we need to be vigorous to try and avoid this happening again."

Police will increase patrols in the area and are appealing to the public to contact them if they have seen any suspicious activity.

Mr Hooker said the arsonist may have used an accelerant and had probably watched residents and firefighters put out the fires.

"Generally with fire lighters they like to see what's going on ... that's what gets them off."

House owner Sally Morris said she was woken by a neighbour who spotted smoke.

"It was pretty close to my house and if she hadn't seen the flame I wouldn't have known, I had taken my sleeping tablets."

Miss Morris said there were no problems on the street and that it was otherwise quiet.

"We will be keeping an eye out now, it's strange that these two houses have been targeted before," Miss Morris said.

A resident who did not want to be named, for fear of retribution, said it was the second time her property had been set alight this year. The first time was on January 30.

"We've actually been here, done this before, we're fairly on to it now," she said.

The owner of the third property also did not want to be named but said his neighbours had put the blaze out before he woke up.

He has three young children aged 1, 4 and 6.

"I've got three babies, it's not the property I'm worried about, it's just my children and family."

He said it is also the second time his property has been targeted. The last attack, in early February, resulted in his house being set ablaze.

"It was much worse, it caught the house, wrecked all the guttering and weatherboards."

He said his family have only recently moved to the area but that the fires are definitely targeted.

"It's not just a mistake, someone is out to cause trouble, two times isn't a coincidence.

The neighbours have spotted a man fleeing the scene both times and are hoping police will catch him soon.