Fire at childcare centre being treated as arson

The fire at Planet Kids in New Lynn. Photo / NZPA

Police are hunting an arsonist after a fire gutted a childcare centre in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn yesterday.

Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Scott Osmond told NZPA today that the fire at the Planet Kids was being treated as suspicious.

"The Fire Service discovered something in the building in their investigations that led them to believe that the fire was caused by arson and have handed the evidence to the police."

Police could not be contacted for comment.

About 45 firefighters battled the blaze yesterday after an automatic fire alarm was activated at 6.31pm.

Fifteen fire appliances and 45 firefighters battled the blaze which was put out about 8pm.

No one was in the building, and there were no other buildings in the immediate area. A railway line nearby had been closed due to thick smoke.

The Fire Service also discovered asbestos in the premises and the local authority was dealing with the problem.

Planet Kids describes itself as a "supercare service in New Lynn that provides only the best of care" for children aged three months to 13 years.

It offers a childcare centre, after and before-school care and school holiday programmes.

- NZPA