Glow in sky as 'every firefighter in Whanganui' called in to fight blaze

It was all hands on deck as every available firefighter in Whanganui was called in to the blaze which destroyed a historical two-storey building on Victoria Ave on Monday morning.

A glow could be seen in the sky as they left the Whanganui Fire Station at 2.49 am.

Eight appliances, including one from Palmerston North, were used to put the fire out.

Video: Richmond Campbell

Fire and Emergency Whanganui senior station officer Jes Sorensen said the fire was surrounded and brought under control but took a couple of hours to extinguish.

"Because the roof had collapsed it meant it was difficult to get to the fire underneath it," he said.

The fire had to be tackled aerially using a pontoon ladder.

The two-storey historical building was gutted by the fire. Photo/ Bevan Conley

Sorenson said the building was believed to be unoccupied at the time but was still being assessed.

Police and fire risk management we onsite this morning and it was too early to determine the cause or where it started.

Fire fighters were dampening down the fire hours after it started. Photo/ Simon Waters

Victoria Ave – Whanganui's main street – was blocked off for several hours, but has since re-opened.

The property remains cordoned off where little more than a facade remains.

A nearby resident said he and his wife were woken shortly after 3am.

"It was well alight - a big fire for sure."

Fire 265 Victoria Ave Photo / Richmond Campbell

Police and fire investigators are on the scene this morning. Photo/ Bevan Conley

The building has been unoccupied for some years and it was thought nobody was inside after the fire started.

"It certainly looks suspicious. How can a fire start if the building was empty?"