'Well-involved' empty building fire on Cameron Rd, Tauranga extinguished

Emergency services are responding to a fire on Cameron Rd, Tauranga. Photo / Cira Olivier

Emergency services responded to an empty blazing empty building on Cameron Rd, Tauranga last night.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they were called to a two-story building which was "well-involved" between Fourth and Fifth Ave at 5.45pm.

The building housed the former Sam's All Day Cafe and Fish and Chips on Cameron.

The fire has since been extinguished and is being investigated, but he said it was unclear whether it was suspicious or not.

A police media spokeswoman said police were called by Fire and Emergency New Zealand to assist with the fire on a property.

A woman who is a resident in Tauranga central said the two shops had been empty for a while, and she often saw blankets inside the building when she walked past.

She said it appeared to be a place homeless people stayed.

St John were called to the scene but they were not required.