Wellington inner city houses damaged in fire, police treating it as suspicious

7:50 am on 17 June 2021

Two inner-city Wellington houses were damaged in a fire police are treating as suspicious, just days after houses in another suburb were destroyed in a blaze.

Fire engine north of Gisborne.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

The fire broke out in a house in Austin St in the inner suburb of Mount Victoria, on Wednesday night.

It also damaged a neighbouring home.

Fire and Emergency said both houses were inhabited, and all occupants were safely evacuated to stay with friends or family.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious and investigators will be looking into the cause.

A suspicious fire in Newtown on Sunday night destroyed two houses and damaged two neighbouring ones.