Sabotage put lives at risk, says fire chief

Volunteer firefighters in the small Hauraki Plains town of Thames are appalled their lives were endangered by a saboteur as they fought an intense fire in the town centre early on Saturday.

As the firefighters fought to bring a large fire in two shops under control, someone turned off the water to one of the 11 fire engines called to the fire from around the district.

For a short time some of the 70 firefighters had no water until the stand pipe hooked into the main water supply and feeding the fire truck could be turned on again.

Thames chief fire officer Boyd Hole said the foolish action of the saboteur could have been fatal for firefighters.

"They were putting lives at risk.

"As soon as they ran out of water we knew there was something wrong and they went to investigate pretty quick and got it back on."

Mr Hole said had firemen been inside the building when they ran out of water, it would have put their lives at serious risk.

He said the firefighters were on the roof of adjacent buildings protecting them from the fire when they ran out of water.

Police and fire safety officers are investigating the fire and the act of sabotage, Mr Hole said.

The fire destroyed a video shop with 10,000 videos, and a chemist shop in the main street and Mr Hole said arson was suspected.

A fire safety inspection of the two buildings has been delayed because of asbestos in the roof.

Mr Hole said inspectors with full masks and protective gear would inspect the buildings today to search for the cause of the fire.

Mr Hole said it was a classic example of the need for a sprinkler system or a smoke alarm which would at least make a lot of noise and alert passers-by.

- NZPA