The sound of breaking glass alerted residents to a fire on an empty property about 1.45am Saturday. PHOTO/MARY ARGUE
MARY ARGUE
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The sound of breaking glass in the early hours of New Year’s Day alerted a resident on Worksop Rd to a suspicious blaze at a neighbouring property.
The Masterton fire brigade responded to a fire at 65 Worksop Rd at 1.45am on Saturday
The property was virtually empty, but a garden shed at the back of the site was ablaze.
The neighbour who called emergency services said there used to be a large villa next door, but it had been relocated.
He said he initially thought someone was breaking into his home.
“I was up watching the boxing when I heard the broken glass.”
He said he went outside to investigate and saw a fiery glow and flames rising 10m high beyond the back fence.
His wife said she could feel the heat of the fire burning more than 40m away. “It was very hot.”
Masterton fire officer Mike Cornford said the fire looked more severe than it was.
“The iron had been removed from the roof, and it was well alight. It was a reasonably large fire for the structure. It would have been pretty hard to miss.”
He said it took about an hour for the fire to be extinguished.
Cornford said initial investigations suggested the fire was deliberately lit.
“We’re pretty sure it’s suspicious.
“Nobody saw anything, but there is no other reason for it to have caught alight.”
