An abandoned house caught fire at 12am on Tuesday. Photo / George HeardThe spokesman said it is being treated as suspicious and a fire investigator will be on-site on Tuesday morning to determine the cause.
It follows another fire at an abandoned house in the city on January 27.
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze in Fendalton and arrived to a two-storey home described as "well involved".
The fire in Fendalton on Wednesday. Photo / Hamish ClarkA longtime observer said the house was frequently visited by trespassers.
Greg Brown, a caretaker from the church across the road, said he would frequently shut the property's gate to keep people out.
He said it was often visited by kids, who would even have parties in the house - a home that has been abandoned since the Christchurch earthquakes.
On December 1, an abandoned villa, which featured in Peter Jackson's film Heavenly Creatures, went up in flames shortly after 5.20am.
Photo / Renae McEnteeOwner Andy Wong said the Edwardian property had a history of problematic squatters and it was the second fire in less than two years.
It is believed someone might have entered the boarded-up building via an existing ladder before setting fire to the property, he said.
