KEY POINTS:
Police and fire safety officers are investigating a major blaze at an Ashburton sawmill today that took more than six hours to fully extinguish.
The fire, which is being treated as suspicious, began about 5.30am and destroyed a 40 metre by 20 metre shed storing processed timber at the Ashburton Timber Co Ltd yard in Bremners Rd.
Fire Service southern communications centre supervisor Andrew Norris said the fire was under control by mid-morning but took about six hours to put out.
The steel and corrugated iron shed collapsed during the fire, making it difficult for firefighters to get water onto the burning timber.
"Both fire safety and police are investigating the cause," Mr Norris told NZPA.
Fire crews from throughout the Ashburton area kept the blaze contained to the storage shed and no other buildings or plant at the yard had been damaged. No one was hurt battling the blaze.
At the height of the fire about 40 firefighters were involved, using four pumping appliances and six water tankers.
The last fire truck left the scene about 12.50pm.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Illingworth, of Ashburton CIB, confirmed police were investigating the cause of the fire.
"Clearly we're investigating it as being suspicious at this stage and we're asking for anyone with any information to come forward," she said.
Police had "a pretty good idea" where the fire started, but Ms Illingworth said she was not prepared to divulge that information.
She said police would speak to the timber yard owners in the next few days.
"We should have a better idea then."
Ashburton fire safety officer Kevin Donaldson said investigators were hoping to start a full inspection of the site this afternoon.
"Our intention is to get in there this afternoon into areas that are deemed to be safe," he told NZPA. "There will be areas that are still unsafe and we'll be back again tomorrow."
Mr Donaldson said conditions at the site were unpleasant, with the blaze needing "a lot of water" to extinguish.
"We're working in ankle-deep mud and water," he said.
It had been difficult to determine the seat of the blaze because of the extent of damage.
Ashburton Timber owner Christine Wong told NZPA she estimated the drying shed would cost about $150,000 to replace.
Company insurers were assessing the damage.
She couldn't give a value for the timber lost in the shed, but said production would not be affected.
"It's only a storage shed," she said.
Most staff were sent home for the day after the fire, with only a management team remaining at the yard.
"Business will be back to normal tomorrow, Ms Wong said.
- NZPA
