Hospital building fire latest in string of suspicious fires

A fire that gutted a building on the site of the old Hawera Hospital yesterday is the latest in a string of suspicious fires in the Taranaki town.

It took five fire crews more than two hours to get the blaze in the unoccupied building under control.

Detective Mike Aro of Hawera told NZPA there was no electrical supply to the building, which had been broken into sometime during the day, suggesting the fire was deliberately lit.

"There has been talk that there have been a group of schoolchildren seen in the area, possibly smoking, so that's where we're starting."

Mr Aro said there had been six building fires and six others lit suspiciously in the past 12 months but police were not necessarily looking for a serial arsonist .

A number had been lit in unoccupied buildings, including one house.

- NZPA