Fire station hit in Featherston crime spate

File photo / NZ Herald

Burglars hit a fire station while its staff were out fighting a fire in a stolen car in an early morning crime spree.

Featherston Railway Station, Star Movies, and Gusto Bakery and Cafe were also broken into about the same time in the town early yesterday.

Featherston chief fire officer Colin McKenna said the brigade was called to the car fire at 2.45am and came back to find their station had been broken into.

"The window into the station was hanging on the ground. They have broken into the bar and made a mess, but it doesn't look like anything was stolen," he said.

"I also noticed a videotape lying on the ground and went round to see the video shop had been broken into."

Mr McKenna said he was angry burglars had targeted an emergency service.

"Fire stations shouldn't need [alarms], we're an emergency rescue outfit and shouldn't need an alarm system in this station. One day they just might need us."

Mr McKenna said the brigade stopped keeping cash in the bar after the fire station was broken into a year ago.