Another fire destroys popular Manawatu cafe

File photo / NZH

A popular cafe near Palmerston North was destroyed in a suspicious fire this morning.

Firefighters were called to Cafe Domain in Ashhurst, 15km northeast of Palmerston North, about 1.15am and found it completely engulfed in flames.

Ashhurst Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Neil Alexander told NZPA the building was severely damaged and the roof had partially collapsed.

It took firefighters 30 minutes to contain the fire and two hours to dampen down hotspots, he said.

The blaze was being treated as suspicious and the Fire Service and police are investigating.

The latest fire is the sixth suspicious blaze in the wider Manawatu area in less than two weeks.

There were three suspicious fires in the city last week - two grass fires at Panieri Park and a Keeling St house fire.

Near Levin thousands of dollars worth of firewood was burned in a shed at a former boys' home and a suspicious fire broke out in a Feilding church hall last week.

- NZPA