Second fire in central Wellington building

Firefighters fought a large fire that broke out last night in a derelict central Wellington building hit by fire only fortnight ago.

Wellington station officer Dave Cairns said the fire, in the former Playgirls Peep Show building in Vivian St, was one of the biggest he had seen in Wellington for some time.

High winds fanned the flames, and blew smoke across the city -- even setting off a fire alarm at a Wellington Hospital building in Newtown.

There were also fears the wind would spread the fire to adjoining buildings.

Crews from 14 fire engines from as far as the Hutt Valley were called in to the fire, which broke out about 9pm.

By 10.30pm, firefighters were still working and part of the building had collapsed.

Police also closed parts of Vivian St and Marion Square to traffic.

Firefighters attended a fire in the same building on February 25, and Mr Cairns said last night's fire was being treated as suspicious.

The building was well known as a "doss house for vagrants", he said.

An investigation into the first fire was still under way.

It was not known if last night's fire had broken out in a different part of the building.

- NZPA