Rotorua dental clinic fire under investigation after bin fire spreads

Police are investigating a fire at a Rotorua dental surgery last night.

Emergency services were called to a commercial building on Pukaki St at 6.44pm, a Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said.

A rubbish bin was found on fire against the building.

“Crews discovered the fire had spread into the roof space and more crews were called,” the spokesman said.

He said the building was 20m by 8m and the roofing iron was removed to extinguish the fire.

Roofing iron was removed to extinguish the fire. Photo / Ben Fraser

The fire was extinguished within an hour of the first call.

A fire investigator was at the building this morning and police officers were standing guard with police tape blocking the entrance to the clinic’s car park.

A police spokesperson said they were called to support Fire and Emergency NZ at 7pm.

Police said it was initially suspected to be a “heat pump fire at a commercial premises”.

“Police are investigating how the blaze occurred.”

The clinic has been approached for comment.

Police tape now blocks the entrance to the clinic’s car park. Photo / Ben Fraser