Suspicious tree fire

Fire fighter Aubrey Yates puts out a fire in a pohutakawa tree near Turret Rd.

A fire in an ancient pohutukawa tree is being investigated by police.

Fire fighters were called to the blaze in the tree next to Turret Rd about 3pm yesterday.

Tauranga senior station officer Philip Price said members of the public had created a bucket brigade and were trying to put the fire out using water from the harbour when fire fighters arrived.

A couple of young boys had been hanging around the toilets and climbing the tree shortly before hand, he said.

"It was way up in the branches, so it doesn't light itself."

The toilet paper in the toilets had also been set alight but the toilets were not damaged, Mr Price said.