Eight-year-old arsonist set playground alight

A young boy deliberately set fire to playground equipment using petrol.

The eight-year-old filled a squeezy bottle with fuel, climbed up and splashed it around a wooden tree fort in Carrington Park, Casterton.

"The amount of petrol he used, he could have quite easily have set himself or other kids on fire," Carterton deputy fire chief Wayne Robinson said.

The fire brigade had the petrol-fuelled flames under control within five minutes of the fire starting at arounf 11am on Saturday.

The 15m-high tree was severely damaged.

Police said the boy will be dealt with through Youth Aid. Fire staff said he is likely to be referred to a special Fire Service programme designed to deal with unhealthy fire-lighting tendencies.

- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE (MASTERTON)