Gay club suspects arsonist

Don Davis examines damage to the Flesh nightclub. Picture / Brett Phibbs

A popular gay nightclub in central Auckland was the target of a suspected fire bomb that forced about 20 staff and patrons to flee unharmed through an emergency exit.

Fire safety officers and police have launched an investigation into the Monday night blaze at Flesh nightclub at O'Connell St in the inner city.

Witnesses saw bursting flames and glass exploding from the three-storey building in O'Connell St housing the nightclub about 11.15pm.

Club owner Nicholas, who did not want to give his surname, said the fire, which started in the entrance and caused considerable fire and smoke damage, was "definitely" the work of an arsonist.

Nicholas would not speculate on whether the fire could have been triggered by recent high-profile issues such as the Civil Union Bill and opposition to gay lifestyles.

"Because of all the homophobes out there in this country we are still vulnerable.

"All we were doing was minding our own business, doing our own thing and suddenly we were fire-bombed.

"We didn't ask for it to happen to us. We don't do it to anybody else."

Nicholas said the fire could also have been started by someone who had been asked to leave the club in the past, or for another reason.

Dubai student Keith Qassab, who lives in the building next door to the club, called the Fire Service after hearing exploding glass and looking out the window to see flames raging from the nightclub.

"This is Auckland's main gay nightclub, it's a landmark. It goes off every day of the week," Mr Qassab said.

Club manager and disc jockey Brad Sullivan, who was playing music on the second floor, said he smelled smoke and saw a thick black cloud coming from the main stairwell before a smoke alarm triggered a magnetic fire door to close.

Mr Sullivan said he turned off the music and evacuated staff and patrons through an emergency exit stairwell. Nobody was hurt.

"I took a fire extinguisher downstairs with me and looked around the corner and felt the heat of the flames on my face," Mr Sullivan said.

"I saw flames billowing out. There was a car parked right opposite the club and the whole car door was melted.

"I just put the fire extinguisher down and the fire brigade arrived about two minutes later and started putting the fire out."

The building also had accommodation for himself and three other people. Three of the four residents were in the building when the fire broke out, and escaped to safety.

Nicholas, who estimated the damage at between $50,000 and $100,000, and Mr Sullivan vowed to reopen the three-year-old club for New Year's Eve.

"My whole life is in this building. All of my possessions, my work, my income, so I am a bit upset about that," Mr Sullivan said.

Detective Sergeant Marie Costello, of the combined investigation unit, said police were treating the fire as suspicious and waiting for a fire safety report to determine the cause.

The police were unaware of any threats to the gay community, she said.