An overnight fire which destroyed a Mangakino service station is being treated as suspicious until an investigation establishes otherwise.
Detective Senior Sergeant Todd Pearce, Taupö CIB, said that the intensity of today’s 3am blaze has extensively damaged the workshop and garage at Jas Kelly Motors on the corner of State Highway 30 and Waipapa Road.
Fire Service staff from Mangakino, Tokoroa and Taupö attended and are dampening down hot spots.
Detective Senior Sergeant Pearce said police and fire service investigators will start a scene examination as soon as possible. This could take a few days to complete.
“Until the outcome of the scene examination and any related inquiry work is known, the fire will be treated as suspicious,” he said.
This is the second time in seven months that service stations in the area have been destroyed by fire. In July last year the Whakamaru Gasoline Alley service station was destroyed by a deliberately lit blaze.
It is too early in the police inquiry to indicate if there is any link between the two fires.
Police want to hear from anyone who heard or saw suspicious activity near the Jas Kelly Motors service station overnight, or from people who may have information about how the fire started and who might be responsible for it.
Anyone with information which will help the police inquiry is asked to contact Detective Senior Sergeant Pearce at Taupo Police on 07 377 0508. You can also provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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