KEY POINTS:
A firebug on a spree of destruction around Palmerston North last night kept firefighters busy and stretched fire service resources.
Six fires were reported in total. The first five were of burning Toitoi bushes on the road side. The sixth was of a giant haystack, made of about 20,000 bales.
All of the hay was destroyed during the blaze, which was still burning this morning.
Palmerston North chief fire officer Rodger Calder estimated the towering inferno to be about three storeys high, 20 metres wide and 50 metres long. It was about 50 metres from the road.
"We couldn't even get in to fight that one. It was too dangerous, with all the falling bales and high heat. The amount of water needed to put that out would have been phenomenal," he told NZPA.
The first burning Toitoi bushes were reported at 10.40pm. Further reports were received at 12.30am, 1.15am, 1.30am and 1.55am, with the final fire on the same road as the first one. The haystack fire was reported at 2.20am.
Palmerston North committed five crews to chasing the fires. Crews from Fielding, Rongotea, Linton, Ashhurst and Bunnythorpe - including a large number of volunteers - were also called in.
"It was wanton blimmin' destruction that caused a lot of resources and manpower to be used for a long period of time," he said.
Police and fire safety officers were investigating how the fires were lit and who lit them.
"At this stage, they were started by a person or persons unknown," Mr Calder said.
Palmerston North CIB were investigating 10 suspicious fires from overnight in total.
Detective Glenda Barnaby said the police were still carrying out scene investigations and piecing together the night's events.
"It started about 8pm in the Ashhurst area and ended about 4am in the Mt Stewart area (about 6km south east of Sanson). We can't be sure they are all linked, but any mug can see they make a path on the map," she said.
The night's trail of arson began when someone torched an abandoned car under a bridge in Ashhurst.
Police were appealing for any sightings of suspicious activity on Green Road, Mt Stewart Road, Penny Road, Fairfield Road and Oroua Road.
They were also looking for the drivers of a Red Mazda and a White Toyota seen around where the fires took place.
- NZPA
