21 Feb 2011

Arson suspected as house targeted again

11:18 am on 21 February 2011

An arson inquiry is under way in Gisborne after an attempt was made to burn down a house in the suburb of Kaiti.

The Dalton Street house was the scene of a gang fight in December last year and a previous arson attempt in January.

The fire started in one room of the unoccupied house just before 7pm on Saturday and had spread to a passageway and part of the roof by the time fire crews arrived.

Fire officers were able to bring the blaze under control before it spread further, but the house has extensive damage.

Detectives and Fire Safety officers are investigating the cause of the blaze.

A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the house on 25 January, but the fire did not take hold.

The incident was investigated at the time, but no arrests have been made to date.