House fire treated as suspicious

Photo / Chris Beggs

A fire which swept through several Lower Hutt houses early yesterday is being treated as suspicious.

The blaze started in an unoccupied house under renovation in Cornwall St and fanned by strong winds quickly spread to neighbouring properties.

The house under renovation was destroyed and four other homes were extensively damaged before a large team of firefighters managed to bring the flames under control.

Lower Hutt senior fire station officer Rob Sullivan said today there appeared to be multiple starting points for the fire and it was therefore being treated as suspicious.

Forensic samples had been taken from the scene and would be analysed for traces of accelerant.

The destroyed house was owned by Gavin Murphy and his family, who saw the destruction when they returned from a trip to Rotorua.

The family had spent two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating the 80-year-old building with the aim of moving in before Christmas.

"She's a bit of a shocker," Mr Murphy told The Dominion Post.

"We're just gutted obviously. It's such a waste."

Mr Murphy said it was a shame neighbouring houses were also affected, but a relief no one was hurt. He said his house would be rebuilt.

Detective Sergeant Mike Sears, of Lower Hutt CIB, praised everyone involved in alerting neighbours and fighting the fire.

"This was an incredibly dangerous situation. Emergency staff, assisted by members of the public, did an outstanding job evacuating all those exposed to risk despite the obvious risks to their own safety.

"It is amazing no one was physically harmed," he said.

- NZPA