Ōrewa commercial building fire extinguished overnight, police treating it ‘suspicious’
Firefighters have extinguished a blaze at a commercial property in Auckland’s Ōrewa overnight.
Police are treating the fire as “suspicious” at this stage.
Fire and Emergency NZ said it was called to the main town centre at about 11.20pm Saturday.
Fire crews responded in just under nine minutes with five crews including two ladder trucks.
A spokesperson said a two-storey property was on fire - with the front entry of a cafeteria well-involved.
They said the crew forced their way inside the building - extinguishing the blaze and leaving at 12:30 this morning.
A fire investigator will attend the scene today.
It comes a month after a car was used to ram into a nearby Ōrewa pub before a fire was lit.
An investigation was launched into the burglary and arson attack after those inside the vehicle fled on foot from the Shoreward Gastrobar.
Waitematā Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie said at the time police were called to the scene on the Hibiscus Coast Highway about 12.40am.
She said the car was used to gain entry to the building.
Photos from the scene show a small blue car in the middle of the pub, with tables, chairs and glass strewn around it.
Goldie said the vehicle’s occupants then tried to set fire to the restaurant before fleeing on foot.
The fire was extinguished by a member of the public before police arrived.
Police said a scene guard remained at the premises overnight.
“Police are treating this incident as suspicious at this stage, and working with a Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire investigator to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire.”