Suspicious fire in Lower Hutt

JOHN DAVIES

ABLAZE: Houses burn in Lower Hutt. At least five houses were extensively damanged and police say it was "amazing" no one was injured.

Police say it was "amazing" no one was injured in a fire that swept through several Lower Hutt houses this morning, fanned by strong, blustery winds.

A police patrol spotted the fire blazing in an unoccupied house under renovation on Cornwall Street , about 1.30am, Detective Sergeant Mike Sears, of Lower Hutt CIB, said.

Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze, which was fanned by strong and blustery winds, and it spread to neighbouring properties, he said.

Four other houses were extensively damaged and others were smoke damaged.

"This was an incredibly dangerous situation. Emergency staff, assisted by members of the public, did an outstanding job evacuating all those exposed to risk despite the obvious risks to their own safety.

"It is amazing no one was physically harmed."

It was too early to say if the fire had been deliberately lit, Mr Sears said.

It would take some time to discover the cause of the fire because of the extent of the damage, he said.

Police wanted to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, whether they saw anything suspicious or not.

- NZPA