Suspicious fire at Masonic Lodge in Te Awamutu

Photo / File photo

A fire that destroyed a building in Te Awamutu early this morning is believed to have been deliberately lit.

A hall at the Masonic Lodge was destroyed by fire at 2.15am.

"The building was well-involved in fire when we first arrived," Fire Service shift manager Jaron Phillips said.

"Firefighters searched the building [but] it was totally smoke-logged. The building next door was smoke-logged as well.

"We have two fire investigators ... at the scene now. They'll be investigating the cause [and] it's being treated as suspicious."

Firefighters managed to save a larger neighbouring building by dampening down hot spots on its roof.

Mr Phillips said there was no early indication of what started the blaze.