Boy referred to youth aid after alleged arson

Firefighters attend the fire at the Centennial Milk Bar in Ranfurly. Photo / Amie Pont / Otago Daily Times

A 13-year-old Ranfurly boy has been referred to Youth Aid after allegedly starting the fire that significantly damaged one of the town's historic buildings.

The Centennial Milk Bar, described as the town's most significant Art Deco building, was set alight on the evening of January 22 but was saved by the town's volunteer fire brigade shortly before flames reached the main part of the complex.

The Central Otago District Council-owned building housed the Catholic Women's League-run op-shop, two beauty businesses and Rural Art Deco Maniototo Inc's gallery.

While the gallery was unaffected, the beauty businesses and the op-shop had to move to temporary premises.

Art Deco society vice-chairwoman Amie Pont had expressed frustration at the thought the offender might have got away with it but yesterday said it was a relief police had found the alleged culprit.

Senior Constable Gordy Pay said the boy was also dealt with for lighting an earlier fire which burnt a poster at the old railway station, now the town information centre.

The boy and another 13-year-old male were also dealt with for the burglary, the day before the fire, of a Ranfurly house in which a PlayStation console and games were taken, he said. The second boy was also referred to Youth Aid.

Snr Const Pay said witnesses saw four boys in the area around the time of the fire. All four had been spoken to by police and "we have determined that one boy was responsible for the fire".

He said the council's insurance company might seek reparation.

A report to the Maniototo Community Board ahead of its meeting tomorrow says the insurance excess cost $5000 and the loss of income from rents is estimated at between $800 and $2500.

Snr Const Pay said investigations continued into three other arsons in Central Otago - at a Roxburgh hay barn on December 27; at Alexandra's former Station Bar and Grill on January 2 and in the newly renovated public toilets next to the Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery a few days later.