Arsonist believed behind two fires

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Investigators believe an arsonist was behind two fires in the same inner-city building in two nights.

Firefighters were called to a basement apartment below the Salvation Army store on Dominion Rd in Balmoral about 7.45 last night - after putting out a blaze at the same spot the night before.

This time, no one was injured, but on Tuesday, a man was taken to Auckland City Hospital with minor injuries.

Auckland City Senior Sergeant Ben Offner said police were speaking to someone in relation to the fires.

Fire safety officer Roy Warren said the emergency call came in as "person reported", meaning there were believed to be people inside.

"So the guys had to go in there with breathing apparatus on while the fire was still going," he said. "They did a good job."

No one was inside but it appeared to be the work of an arsonist, Mr Warren said.

"Just the fact that we've got a fire in exactly the same place confirms it as suspicious."

Mr Warren said the apartment contained a number of sewing machines and appeared to be lived in. On Tuesday night, fire safety officer Ray Coleman said five or six Koreans were living there.

Mr Warren said fire staff would put out the fire and get as much smoke out of the building before locking it down for the night.

It was too early to speculate on cause, he said.