Police have an arson inquiry under way into a fire at the Gisborne City Lodge boarding house on Monday afternoon.
Fire and Emergency NZ responded to the incident at around 4.30pm.
“A small fire was started in a detached bedroom at the rear of the establishment,” a police spokesman said.
“Firefighters managed to put it out before it could spread further from the room.”
The interior of the room was substantially damaged but there was no structural damage.