Mosque fire under investigation

A fire at a mosque early this morning is under investigation.

The fire broke out at the Avondale Islamic Centre in Blockhouse Bay, West Auckland.

The fire was in a storage shed attached to the main mosque building, police said.

"A small fire was located in a storage area attached to the side of the main building," Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Newman from Glenn Innes CIB said.

"Damage was limited to the inside of this shed. The Mosque itself was not damaged."

He added: "Thankfully, a member of the public noticed smoke and call for assistance."

The cause of the fire is now being investigated by the Fire Service and police, Mr Newman said.

The Fire Service was alerted to the blaze at 2:41am, said Megan Ruru, northern fire communications shift manager.

Six appliances were sent to the fire.

"The information when the first fire truck got there was that it was a small fire. But then they transmitted a second alarm...so obviously when they actually got to where the fire was, it was bigger than they had envisaged."