Mt Eden school fire described as suspicious

A fire that gutted a room attached to an Auckland school hall early today has been described as suspicious.

More than 60 firefighters in 14 appliances were called to Maungawhau School in Mt Eden after neighbours raised the alarm just before 2.30am.

Fire safety officer Russell Dickson said police had been alerted because of the suspicious nature of the incident.

He said the fire was largely contained to a four-metre by two-metre room attached to the school hall.

Flames spread to the roof and also burned one wall of the school hall, but there was no major damage to the structure of the building.

Mr Dickson said it was too early to say what the cause might have been.

- NZPA