KEY POINTS:
A fire that destroyed a partially disused Auckland freezing works is being treated as a suspected arson.
Fire safety officer Russell Dickson last night told the Herald that as a result of "information" and an external examination, firefighters now believed the blaze at the former Southdown Freezing Works in Penrose was "in all probability of suspicious origin".
The investigation into the biggest blaze in Auckland in decades has been passed to police, who will begin their inquiries today.
The coolstore was badly damaged in Saturday's blaze and the building has been unsafe for firefighters to enter.
Mr Dickson said investigators had been able to gather enough clues by looking at the ruins from the outside, using ladders to get close to the scene, and by collecting other information such as witness accounts.
He would not say what evidence firefighters had that the fire was suspicious as it was now a police matter.
Mr Dickson said he did not believe another large fire in the area that destroyed a Mitre 10 expo store in Onehunga on December 8 was connected.
"I don't believe there's a serial firebug on the go."
