Men arrested for arson after Maungatapu house fire

House fire in Maungatapu. Photo/George Novak

Two local 21-year-old men have been arrested by Tauranga Police today after an arson attack on a home in Maungatapu yesterday afternoon.

The house was extensively damaged by fire and smoke and police believe an accelerant was used.

There was nobody home at the time and nobody was injured.

Detective Sergeant Alan Kingsbury said it was fortunate neighbours took fast action when they saw the fire.

He said the house would have been destroyed without the actions of the neighbours using garden hoses on the fire.

The two men, both unemployed and aged 21, will appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow, both charged with arson.

They are both also facing unrelated charges of burglary as well as arson charges relating to separate fires which have recently occurred to a mobility scooter parked at an address in 17th Avenue and rubbish bins at Tauranga Boys College.

Detective Sergeant Alan Kingsbury said police appreciated the quality information that members of the public were able to provide and that this was a significant factor in the arrests being made.