The fires are about 400m apart. Photo / John Weekes
A suspected firebug built up piles of kindling across an urban park before lighting two blazes this morning, a firefighter says.
Police were investigating after two fires broke out on Mt Victoria near Wellington City this morning.
The fires were in patches of native bush, and flames were visible from offices in downtown Wellington.
One of the fires was a short walk away from a gas mains facility near the top of Ellice St.
Thorndon station officer Paul Lahina said it was immediately clear the fires were deliberately-lit.
Firefighters found evidence of planned fires at more spots across Mt Victoria, Mr Lahina said.
"They've been stacking off-cuts from the trees into piles at different locations."
Firefighters joined four separate 30m hoses and moved up the vegetation-covered hill to fight the fires.
The fires were extinguished before 9.30am.
NZME News Service understands authorities had a description of the suspect including his age, ethnicity, and another identifying features.
One fire appliance was sent from Kilbirnie, and another from Thorndon.
The fires indirectly caused some disruption to traffic and residents around the Hataitai bus tunnel during rush hour.
"I'm just waiting to get in my car. I have no idea what happened," resident Danielle Hrstich said.
"I just walked out and my car's blocked in."
The protest will pass over the harbour bridge this morning.