Quake victim flees arson hit home

Police photo of the tag police believe may have been linked to the spate of Christchurch arsons at the weekend. Photo / supplied

A father who lost his 8-month-old son in the February 22 earthquake says he and his young daughters would probably have died in one of a spate of suspected weekend arson attacks if he hadn't been woken by a neighbour.

The spate of weekend arsons has Christchurch police worried someone could soon lose their life.

The Fire Service was called to seven fires between 12.44am and 1.42am in Aranui early on Saturday morning.

Two of the fires were on Ben Rarere Avenue, three were on Aldershot Street and two were on Portsmouth St.

Detective Sergeant Chris Power said a vacant house was set alight along with two garages, with another fire being lit very close to a house and others in rubbish bins and skips.

Grant Smith, who lost his 8-month-old son Jayden Harris in the February 22 earthquake, was forced to flee his Portsmouth St home.

"I think if we did not get woken we probably would have been victims," he told the Press.

It's the third weekend in a row that fires have been deliberately lit in the area.

The rowing club building at Kerrs Reach was gutted on February 28, while on February 18 fires were also lit at Aranui High School, Avondale School, Kidsfirst Kindergarten, all in eastern Christchurch.

Detective Sergeant Power said there is a growing risk to life.

He said there was an extensive bout of tagging in the area around the time of the fires.

Police have released a photo of the tag in the hope someone might recognise it and contact them with more information.

- Herald Online staff