KEY POINTS:
A second man has been arrested over a series of fires in Hamilton overnight, including a blaze which forced the evacuation of a private hospital.
A 22-year-old Hamilton process worker has been charged with six counts of arson while a 19-year-old man faces one charge of arson.
Both were to appear in Hamilton District Court this afternoon.
"These arrests come on the back of an early response by the Fire Service and police which enabled detectives early follow up of positive lines of enquiry," said Mr Page.
A wheelie bin was set alight against the wall of Braemar Hospital in suburban Frankton around 2.40am.
The flames spread to the hospital's ceiling vent and into an X-ray room containing an MRI scanner.
Waikato and Bay of Plenty Assistant Fire Commander Roy Breeze said the sprinkler system extinguished the fire, but appeared to have caused water damage to equipment.
While the repair bill could run into the millions, Mr Breeze said it was preferable to what could have happened without the sprinklers.
"It would have been far worse. The place would have been burnt out. (The fire) would have taken off quite fast."
There were 32 bedridden patients staying at the hospital, with the nearest ward just 15 metres from the X-ray room.
Staff acted quickly to evacuate after fire alarms went off and smoke and flames were spotted at the front of the building, he said.
Ambulances and buses were called to help move patients with half being taken to "safe areas" and 10 shifted to another hospital.
More than 30 firefighters and eight fire appliances brought the blaze under control. A main gas pipe was burned through and hoses were used to keep a gas cloud away from the hospital until the line could be switched off.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Page, of Hamilton CIB, said the fires were lit at various places between Collingwood Street through to Queens Avenue, and included rubbish skips, a phone booth and a vehicle.
Mr Page said the hospital's evacuation plan had appeared to work smoothly and ensured any risk to patients was minimised.
Police enquiries into the fires were continuing.
"We're appealing to members of the public who may have been in the vicinity of Lake Road and Hill Street about 2.30-3am today, and around Lake Rd and Queens Ave between 3am and 3.30am to report any sightings or observations of suspicious activity.
"While the early arrests are outstanding, there are still investigations to be completed and we ask that the public come forward with information they may have," said Mr Page.
- NZPA
