A man has been charged in relation to one of two fires deemed “suspicious” in Auckland’s Manurewa last night and early this morning.
Fire and Emergency north shift manager Josh Pennefather told 1News firefighters responded to two fires in the Manurewa area, the first on Great South Rd at 9.44pm on Saturday night and the other on Lincoln Rd shortly before 4.30am this morning.
In a statement, police said a 57-year-old man has been charged following the fire at the Lincoln Rd apartment block.
“Initial indications suggest the fire was deliberately lit,” a police spokesperson said.
The man is due to appear in Manukau District Court on September 23, charged with wilfully setting fire to property.
Separate fires at an apartment block and house in Auckland’s Manurewa are being treated as suspicious, FENZ says. (Source: 1News)
Earlier, Pennfather said one of the apartments in the block was fully involved in fire.
He said five fire trucks were currently at the scene on Lincoln Rd, including a ladder truck.
“It’s being treated as suspicious.”
He said everyone was out at the time of the fire, however neighbouring apartments had been damaged by the smoke.
Pennefather said the fire investigator would determine the cause and origin.
Also in Manurewa last night, Pennefather said five fire trucks were called to a separate single-level house fire on Great South Rd at 9.44pm.
“All persons are accounted for, so everyone was out of the building,” he said.
He said the fire investigator would return to the scene today.
Police said the suspicious fire was reported to officers around 9.45pm, and inquiries were ongoing to determine the circumstances of the fire.
