Suspicious fire at former hospital

The fire at the abandoned Barrett Street Hospital in New Plymouth. Photo / Tim Stone via Glenn Jeffrey

A leading firefighter has dismissed fears of asbestos contamination arising from a suspicious fire that caused significant damage to a derelict former hospital building.

Twenty-six firefighters working from four fire engines fought the blaze at the old Barrett St hospital buildings in New Plymouth, following the first of several 111 calls at 9.12am today.

Amateur photographer Tim Stone, who took pictures of the fire, said there were fears of asbestos fibres being carried in smoke to homes within 200m of the fire.

But Fire Service New Plymouth area manager Pat Fitzell said there was no asbestos in today's fire.

"The amount of water we were tipping on there, if there was anything it wasn't going anywhere."

He said the fire caused significant damage to an area 20m by 30m in one of the site's buildings. A second fire caused minor damage to another building at the site.

He said the fires were suspicious and police were interviewing three youths.

"For years we have been having issues with kids lighting fires up there."

The Taranaki Daily News reported in 2013 that the buildings on the site would be demolished. The Government bought the 7.62ha site in 1996 and it is administered by the Treaty Settlements Office as part of its landbank for settlements.

A Justice Ministry review commissioned in 2012 said investigations in the 1990s reported a number of the buildings had asbestos cladding components and there was asbestos contamination of sub-floor and service areas.