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Fires overnight in Auckland, Invercargill - arson suspected

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 6 Sept 2023, 7:08am
A historic building at Pall Mall Arcade in Invercargill was gutted by fire overnight. Image - Facebook / Richard Stone
A historic building at Pall Mall Arcade in Invercargill was gutted by fire overnight. Image - Facebook / Richard Stone

Fires overnight in Auckland, Invercargill - arson suspected

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 6 Sept 2023, 7:08am

An historic building in Invercargill has been gutted by fire overnight, while a house fire in Auckland is suspected to have been set deliberately. 

Emergency services were called just before 1am to a fire on Cedar Heights Ave in the Auckland suburb of Massey West. 

The first floor was well involved when crews arrived at the two-storey house, a Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said. 

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Two crews made entry, but no one was located inside. Five fire trucks and two support units, from West Harbour, Te Atatu, Auckland City, Henderson and Takapuna, were called to help extinguish the blaze. 

The Herald understands the blaze is suspicious. A fire investigator is on the scene. 

Firefighters at a suspicious house fire in Massey early this morning. Photo / Hayden WoodwardFirefighters at a suspicious house fire in Massey early this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward 

The house fire was well-involved when crews arrived. Photo / Hayden WoodwardThe house fire was well-involved when crews arrived. Photo / Hayden Woodward 

Meanwhile in Invercargill, one person was burned in a fire that gutted a historic building in the city centre. 

Eight fire crews and a ground unit were called to the Pall Mall Arcade building on Dee St, just before 1am. 

Video shot at the scene shows metres-high flames streaming from the windows of the building, with noises like gunshots popping in the background. 

A Fenz spokesperson said the three-storey building was from the 1860s. The fire was well-involved on both the first and second floors when firefighters arrived. 

About six people were evacuated, with all of them treated for smoke inhalation. One person also suffered superficial burns to their limbs, the spokesperson said. 

The blaze was now controlled and it had not spread to other buildings. An investigator was on the scene, and there would be significant delays around Dee St for some time this morning. 

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