Police say a large blaze at a Hamilton mechanic’s workshop which prompted the callout of dozens of firefighters yesterday is being treated as an arson.
Emergency services were called to the building on Ellis St, Frankton at around 11.30am yesterday.
Crews from as far as Te Awamutu responded to the fire, Fire and Emergency NZ said.
Detective Sergeant Matt Lee said a scene examination involving police and a fire investigator was taking place today.
“We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed any activity at or around the premises yesterday morning leading up to the fire.”
Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105.
Heidi Shoston, who works at a nearby office, told 1News yesterday that the fire started and grew in size “really quickly”.
“We all went running out to the carpark and saw the roof was on fire, plumes of black smoke everywhere.”
A group of workers from the office gathered to watch the fire from across the road, and Shoston said they could feel the heat from the flames.
“Every now and then, there would be these loud bangs coming from the building, we reckon they were oil drums heating up and going off intermittently.”
Firefighters got the blaze under control fast, she said, attacking the flames from all sides of the building.
“They had the majority of it out within half an hour.”
