Suspicious blaze at art deco museum

Firefighters attend a fire at the Centennial Milk Bar in Ranfurly. Photo / Amie Pont / Otago Daily Times

South Island fire crews were kept busy overnight responding to two suspicious blazes, one at an art deco museum.

Southern fire communications shift manager Karl Patterson said the first occurred in Ranfurly at the Centennial Milk Bar at 7.20pm.

Four trucks from around the region were called out to the fire at the old art deco building, he said.

The building also serves as a tourist attraction, operating as an art deco museum.

The building was well ablaze when firefighters arrived but no one was injured, Mr Patterson said.

The second fire was reported about 5.45am at two flats opposite the Linwood Bowling Club in Christchurch.

"We're still there now, we've got a specialist fire investigator who'll be heading down there later this morning," Mr Patterson said.

"On arrival they were well ablaze."

The flats were believed to be unoccupied and there were no reports of injuries.

Both fires were being treated as suspicious.