Portaloo blaze latest suspicious fire

Two cars, a motorcycle and a portaloo were set alight in a string of suspicious fires across Wanganui overnight.

It was too soon to say whether the fires were linked, although the Fire Service suspects they were deliberately lit.

The first fire, at the corner of London and Grey streets in Springvale, was reported about 10.55pm.

Firefighters were told it was a scrub fire, but arrived to find a motorcycle alight, Wanganui Fire Service assistant area manager Gary Ward said.

About an hour later they were called to a car fire in Gilmour St, Gonville.

The blaze was put out but firefighters were called back to the scene.

"Probably before they even got back to the station they were called back to the same address by the police to help retrieve a lady's handbag from the roof of a flat," Mr Ward said.

"Sounds like somebody was messing around there. They needed a ladder to help retrieve that."

Firefighters were then called to a portaloo on fire on Cross St, in Castlecliff, about 2.44am.

They were again called out to a car fire, at Gordon's Bush in Okoia, about 8km east of the city, about 6.51am.

"We suspect they were probably lit deliberately, those four fires," Mr Ward said.

"To have four suspicious fires in one evening, I'll certainly be talking to police today and seeing if they've got any information and whether the incidents are linked."

Police said they had attended the fires and would make inquiries.

- NZPA