Suspicious Hastings fire

A Hastings house on a temporary site was torched in the early hours of Sunday. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Hastings house, mid-way through the removal process, was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Sunday.

Police are investigating the suspicious fire that drew Hastings fire crews to the Heretaunga Club carpark at 12.38am.

They found a house close to the Hastings St footpath on fire and were forced to disassemble a protective fence to gain access.

It was one of three houses stored on the site as part of the club's nearby development.

Hawke's Bay Senior Sergeant Dan Foley said the blaze was being treated as arson.

A Fire Service investigation found no evidence of any accelerant used to start the fire.

The Heretaunga Club is nearly demolished as part of a redevelopment and merger with Hastings RSA.

Last year the 3500-member RSA received an offer of $3.3 million for the club site from its supermarket neighbour. Club members voted to sell and merge with and move to the 855-member Heretaunga Club.

The new combined-club building will be built alongside the existing outdoor bowling green and the current club building site would become a carpark.

Neighbouring properties were purchased, including Max Scott Motors on the corner of Albert and Hastings streets, and houses moved to the club carpark on the corner of Victoria and Warren Streets.