Lower Hutt
November 15, 2009, 4:33 pm
Media Release:
Lower Hutt Residents Evacuated From Inferno
Part of a Lower Hutt residential street remains cordoned off today while Fire and Police investigators attempt to determine the cause of a large blaze that has destroyed or extensively damaged 6 addresses.
An unoccupied address under construction in Cornwall Street was discovered well alight by a passing Police patrol at about 1.30 am this morning.
Numerous fire appliances struggled to contain the fire that was fanned by strong and blusterous winds. Before the fire was controlled 4 neighbouring addresses were extensively damaged with others suffering smoke damage.
Detective Sergeant Mike Sears of the Lower Hutt CIB said "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 that no-one was physically harmed."
Given the extent of the damage it will take some time before we are in a position to determine the cause of the fire. At this stage we are simply not in a position to say if it was deliberately lit or not.
Despite this we urgently need to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time, regardless of whether they think they saw anything suspicious or not." Please call the Lower Hutt Police on 5602600.
Mike Sears
Detective Sergeant
Lower Hutt CIB
15/11/09
*************UPDATE********************
Lower Hutt Blaze Deliberately lit.
16 November 2009
Investigators have confirmed that the fire that destroyed and damaged numerous houses in Cornwall Street, Lower Hutt, over the weekend was deliberately lit.
Detective Sergeant Mike Sears of the Lower Hutt CIB says "This is a very serious matter that exposed a number of people to great harm and caused considerable damage. We are treating this with the utmost urgency. We have a team of investigators working in an effort to identify those responsible."
Police are asking to hear from any members of the public who were in the area at the time or that saw anyone acting suspiciously.
Please call the Lower Hutt Police urgently on 5602600
Mike Sears
detective Sergeant
Lower Hutt CIB
