Appeal for witnesses after eight fires

A spate of suspicious fires in Palmerston North, including one which destroyed a van for special needs students, has police appealing for witnesses to any suspicious activity.

They are investigating whether three suspicious fires early this morning are linked to five blazes on Sunday night and Monday morning.

Sunday evening saw a skip set alight in Skoglund Park, causing minor damage. Nearby Freyberg School suffered a more substantial fire when a tractor shed in the school grounds was set alight. A van used to transport disabled students was destroyed.

A caretaker's shed at Terrace End School in Ruahine St was also set alight and a fire was then reported on a construction site by the Leisure Plex on Railway St.

Early on Monday morning there was a hedge fire in Taonui Rd, Feilding.

A team of detectives were already investigating the suspected arsons when this morning three fires were lit between midnight and 3.20am.

The Cafe Esplanade, the site office of a construction project on Ashley St and a pile of rubbish next to a fence near shops in Cook St were all targeted.

"Although at this stage there is no evidential link between the fires, the geography and timing of them is too coincidental, and we would be naive not to investigate them as a whole," said Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan.

"Fortunately most of the fires have been minor but there has still been some significant financial cost, and the destruction of a vehicle for disabled children is despicable.

"There is no personal gain to arson it is just a selfish act, but the impact on life and property can be huge."

Someone must know, or be suspicious, of someone who might be starting the fires, he said.

The offender or offenders were out late at night and early in the morning and would, without doubt, be smelling of smoke when they returned, he said

They were also likely to be talking about the fires.

"The nights that fires have occurred are relatively quiet nights in the town so whoever is out and about start them may well have drawn attention to themselves."

- NZPA