Police investigate spate of Christchurch fires

File photo / NZ Herald

Police are investigating a series of arsons across Christchurch over the last fortnight, but have denied that a serial firebug is behind the blazes.

Investigations are continuing into a fire that razed to the ground the historic Canterbury Rowing Club's boat shed at Kerrs Reach, Wainoni, on Saturday.

The blaze - which destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rowing equipment - came after fires at three nearby educational facilities over the previous weekend.

Police and Fire Service investigators are treating the boat shed fire as arson and are appealing for witnesses.

But they don't believe there is a link with those fires in the eastern suburbs with a series of fires in the central city last Sunday, which they did accept could be the work of "a single individual or group".

Between 2.45am and 3.15am on Sunday, emergency services attended three fires that are being treated as arson. All three were in close proximity to each other and police suspect they are connected.

At 2.48am an old fire appliance, now owned by a demolition company, was parked underneath the Durham Street overbridge near the entrance to the former Rialto cinema. It was broken into and the cab area was set alight.

While the fire service were attending that fire, two further fires were lit a short distance away at about 3.10am. The first was on Manchester Street in a large rubbish skip opposite a motorcycle store.

The second was lit at the front of a truck parked in the driveway of commercial premises in Allen Street, off Manchester Street.

Detective Sergeant Mark Worner says there is no indication that the incidents are connected, "at this stage".

Police are also investigating.

Mr Worner said: "We are encouraging anyone who sees people at unattended premises at a time or in circumstances that don't seem right to contact us immediately.

"If members of the public see any suspicious activity or persons in and around these areas, please contact police immediately."