Suspicions surround Bay church fire

Police and a fire safety investigator are investigating the cause of the church fire. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Police are investigating a fire which could've destroyed a Bay of Plenty church.

Firefighters were called to a fire at St John the Baptist Anglican Church in Te Puke, just after 3am.

It took them about an hour and half to bring the fire under control and stopped from burning the church to the ground.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Scott Osmond says the fire was started at an exterior air conditioning unit connected to the church.

He says the building was smoke logged.

'They have fire safety and police going there this morning - they believe it might be suspicious."

The fire was detected in the historic church by the smoke alarm which alerted the fire brigade automatically.

The fire brigade have responded to a number of false alarms here, but they always treat them seriously, says a reporter at the scene.

Specialist Fire Investigator Jon Rewi says the alarm system saved the building.

"It's a really good result."

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2 comments

Idiots

Posted on 26-01-2018 08:27 | By Border Patrol

Why would anyone want to do this? It's a lovely old church and could have been lost forever due to idiotic behaviour.


Sorry, but in this day and age

Posted on 27-01-2018 20:53 | By The Caveman

We have a certain group of "society" that have nothing between the ears, (DRUG USE) and think that its FUN to engage in such totally ANTI SOCIAL activities. First move: locations like this church need (regretfully) install motion activated flood lights, PLUS very high definition CCTV all around their buildings, AND SECOND when the "sh_ts" that engage type of activity at night get caught, NO home detention, NO community service - THEY NEVER DO EITHER - JAIL -for at least FIVE YEARS, with what was one called HARD LABOUR.


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