Three more suspicious fires overnight

Police are investigating three more suspicious fires in Palmerston North overnight.

The fires follow another five suspicious fires lit over the weekend, which included fires at two schools.

Fires were lit between midnight and 3.20am today at the Esplanade Cafe, the site office of a construction project on Ashley St and a pile of rubbish next to a fence near shops in Cook St, said acting Sergeant Kaine Austin of Palmerston North police.

The investigation had been turned over to the CIB, he said.

This morning's fires caused some damage to the fence and the site office was moderately damaged on the inside, Palmerston North Fire Service senior station officer Graeme Mills said.

Things had been "hectic" for firefighters over the past few days but he stopped short of saying Palmerston North had a fire bug.

"It looks like there might be a bit of a problem here. We will have to see what they get out of the investigations."

- NZPA