Historic church damaged by fire

A suspicious fire early today has left an historic Plimmerton church substantially damaged.

The Fire Service was called to St Andrew's Anglican Church on Steyne Avenue, in the Porirua suburb, about 1.15am, when smoke was noticed by a passer-by.

When crews arrived they found a substantial fire burning in the ceiling cavity of the historic chapel, which is attached to a larger modern hall. .

A Fire Service spokesman told NZPA that the fire went to a third alarm which meant that eight appliances and more than 30 firefighters from Porirua and Plimmerton were in attendance, as well as aerial ladder appliances from Wellington and Thorndon.

Fire crews managed to bring the fire under control and save the rest of the church.

Plimmerton Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Carl Mills said that firefighters were able to get to work quickly, and fire was extinguished before it could spread far beyond the roof void.

"The chapel is significantly damaged, but we are relieved to have been able to prevent its destruction, and to have protected the rest of the complex from damage," he said.

Mr Mills said that the chapel, built in 1916 and designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere, was one of the oldest buildings in Plimmerton, and an important hub for events in the community.

"It's important to our community, and to me personally... I was married here," he said..

The fire was being treated as suspicious, and was currently under investigation by police assisted by fire safety officers.

A church spokesman said services would be held in the nearby church hall.

The fire was the third major incident for the Plimmerton Volunteer Fire Brigade within the past week, following the Titahi Bay scrub fire and a fatal motor vehicle accident in Pukerua Bay on Friday morning.

- NZPA