Neighbours praised for fighting blaze

Nelson firefighters have praised the actions of neighbours who saved a kindergarten from destruction after an arson attack early today.

But at the same time they say they are sickened by the arson attempt which they described as amounting to a crime against children.

The fire happened at the Nelson South Kindergarten in Waimea Road and the alarm was raised by nearby residents just after midnight. Police said four people were seen running from the scene.

"It sickens us that there are people who have no issue about carrying out malicious offences against children in the community," station officer Kevin O'Connor told the Nelson Mail today.

He said neighbours reported the fire and then attacked the flames with a garden hose. Another removed burning items away from the building.

"We don't recommend people actually do that, but the fact they attacked the fire with a garden hose contained it," Mr O'Connor said.

The northern side of the building was extensively damaged.

Mr O'Connor said the kindergarten budgie had survived the fire and smoke.

"It's hard enough for the kids seeing their kindy damaged, but it would be terrible if the budgie had been harmed," he said.

Nelson District Kindergarten Association chief executive Wendy Logan said it was the third attack on an early childhood centre in the Nelson region in a year, and she was at a loss as to why they had become a target.

The Waverley St Kindergarten in Richmond was badly damaged by a fire last July and this week it was fired at with a paintball gun.

It was likely that the 65 children who attended Nelson South Kindergarten would temporarily be placed in other kindergartens.

Police were carrying out a scene examination today.

Detective Aaron Kennaway, of the Nelson CIB, said it appeared the fire had been deliberately lit and had similarities to the attack on the Richmond kindergarten.

Items including a couch under a veranda outside the building had been set alight deliberately.

Mr Kennaway said four people were seen running from the scene.

"It's interesting that the arson on the Richmond kindergarten was exactly the same as this," he said.

- NZPA