A man has been charged with arson after two building fires were reported within a half-hour of each other around Auckland’s Newmarket this morning.
No injuries were reported at either of the fires, and police said a 36-year-old man was arrested a short time later in relation to the incidents.
The first fire was at a property on Manukau Rd, Epsom at 5.26am, with firefighters called to the scene by a “fire alarm evacuation”.
“On arrival, crews found a fire on the ground floor of the building. At the height of the fire a second alarm was transmitted, with six appliances attending.”
Crews attended from Remuera, Auckland City, Ellerslie, Parnell and Balmoral.
Around half an hour later at 6.07am, firefighters were called to reports of another fire at a commercial property on Kent St in Newmarket, around 2km away from the first fire.
“On arrival, crews located a fire at the building’s front showroom, approximately 16 by 20 metres, well involved in fire,” a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said.
“A second alarm was transmitted, with seven crews currently attending the incident.
“Crews are in attendance from Ellerslie, Auckland City, Balmoral, Grey Lynn and Parnell.”
Police said it believed the two fires were related upon investigation at the scenes.
The 36-year-old man arrested following the fires was due in the Auckland City District Court later today, charged with two counts of arson.
‘Shaky and exhausted’: Newmarket store manager speaks of shock
General manager of Newmarket baby clothing store Dimples, Donna Gillespie, said she was feeling “a bit shaky and exhausted” after the fire at her store this morning.
After receiving a call from her alarm company, she checked the store’s security cameras and saw flames and lots of smoke.
She said the store’s entire stock sustained smoke damage, making it unsellable.
Anyone with existing orders need not worry, however, as Dimples’ head office, warehouse, and dispatch operations were still running.
She asked customers to “support us by shopping online, that would be great”.
– Additional reporting by Luke Fisher