Two Christchurch house fires 'suspicious'

File photo / Wayne Drought

Two abandoned Christchurch houses have been seriously damaged in suspicious fires today.

Fire crews were called to the first property on Peterborough Street at 4.40am, southern fire communications shift manager Brent Dunn said.

"Then 10 minutes later we were called out to River Road in the Richmond area and that was also an abandoned house and also a suspicious fire.

"Both buildings were well ablaze when fire crews arrived, Mr Dunn said.

Fire inspectors and police would investigate the blazes, he said.