Raumanga church goes up in flames in Whangārei, cause still unknown

The roof of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Raumanga sustained most of the damage after the fire last night. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The cause of the last night's fire at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Raumanga, Whangārei is still unknown.

Fire investigators visited the property this morning after multiple crews attended the blaze about 10pm, which had engulfed the church's roof.

Most of the damage had been inflicted to the upper section of the tall church building. It was fortunate the fire did not spread to nearby trees or buildings as the church sits beside a hall, a playcentre and a house.

The church directly neighbours a house on the left, a hall and a playcentre. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Siulolo Ahio, who lives at the house next to the church with her two children and husband who is the church's minister, said she first discovered the fire when she could hear an unusual rattling sound from the church.

"We heard rattles and we thought it was something from the downstairs storage room and I just wanted to check it out because the rattle was quite loud," she said.

"I pulled the sliding door from our house and there I saw the flame, it was already engulfed."

When the glass windows in the church exploded from the heat, Ahio immediately woke her mokopuna and evacuated the house.

Fire investigators were at the property this morning. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Ahio said fire crews responded very quickly and ensured no one was harmed.

The church, which normally saw about seven families to its weekly service, had not been in use since lockdown in March apart from some regular cleaning.

While she said the incident was quite distressing, Ahio thanked those from the community who had offered their support.

Community groups including The Fono, Whānau Ora, Fale Pasifika, Te Ora Hou and the local Raumanga kindergarten had all offered meat and other food for Ahio's family and the wider church whānau.

"We appreciate all the phone calls and all the test messages we've been receiving, all the Facebook messages, we really appreciated that but we are safe.

"It's been a overwhelming day but the amazing support from the community has been wonderful."