Police are appealing for witnesses after a suspected arson attack in Masterton.
Enquiries are ongoing after a car was set alight on Colombo Rd early Wednesday morning.
By the time the fire brigade arrived, the fire had already spread to nearby trees and plants.
Car owner Andrew Morris said the fire had to potential to reach houses.
“I’m very concerned, it had the potential for other houses to go up. It was a pretty stupid thing to do.”
Police and fire officers attended the blaze at 3.20am.
Masterton Police have asked anyone who may have more information to make contact.
“We are looking for anyone in the area who has CCTV, anyone else who has had located fires on their property or has seen suspicious behaviour.”
They said it was so far an isolated incident.
“Fire services were called to a car fire in the driveway where the owner of the vehicle found his car light and trees nearby. The damage to the rear right-hand corner is quite extensive.”
They said fire officers were able to put the fire out with help from the neighbour.
Morris said he was woken up when his dog started barking.
“I saw the orange light and at first I thought it was a council van going past. But then I saw it going up the tree and I was like oh sh*t.”
Morris said he couldn’t think of anyone who would do this, and believed it could have been random.
“According to the police they put a firelighter against the tyre and lit that, and the tyre just went up.
“I went and put the hose on it and when the tyre blew it woke the neighbours.
“I’m guessing it was kids, but I don’t know why they’d have been out at 2-3 o’clock in the morning.”
Morris said the car was burning for about 15-20 minutes.
“The fire brigade had to drown the thing to put it out. Even when it was out it kept smoking, so they kept going just to be sure.”
He said the response had been comprehensive, with fire officers, police and fire investigators from Wellington responding quickly to the incident.
Police said nobody was injured and the fire was contained.
