Suspicious fire costs farmer $10,000

A suspicious fire in a massive stack of oat and barley straw in the Kurow area has cost a farmer at least $10,000.

The fire was spotted by a Network Waitaki contractor, shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday on Smillies Rd. It comes only a week after several suspicious fires, targeting cars and a house, in the area.

The blaze stretched across the bales facing the road; the pile was 30 metres long, six metres high and two bales deep.

Constable Craig Bennett said it was too early to say whether last week's fires were linked to this one.

"It is under suspicious circumstances and I'm following lines in relation to that."

Tyre tracks at the scene indicated the cause was not accidental, like combustion.

If it was arson, Mr Bennett said that "thoughtless" act would end up costing at least $10,000.

"There's big consequences from small mindless acts. It is a lot of needless work, a lot of needless expense and at this time of the year the farmer has got enough to worry about."

About 80 bales of straw had been destroyed, each costing $60, two hectares of seeded field had been churned up as crews extinguished the blaze and tore down the stack and the cleanup would take at least a day, with two people and a truck and trailer unit, costing an additional $250 an hour, Mr Bennett said.

"It also doesn't include a large percentage of the farmer's irrigation which was used to refill the water tankers and the cost of three tankers, a petrol pump and about 20 other fire staff."

Anyone with information, or who saw suspicious activity on Smillies Rd is asked to contact the Kurow police station on (03) 438 9559. Mr Bennett said he was still seeking information about last week's arson attacks.

- © Fairfax NZ News