Reserve fire suspicious

Police are investigating a suspicious fire which was put out using water from a nearby creek.

Firefighters from both Devonport Fire Station and Takapuna Fire Station were called to a small scrub fire in Northboro Reserve in Belmont on the afternoon of November 13.

Devonport Fire Station station officer John Ellington said they had been called to the fire and roughly 30 square metres of pine needles and scrub had been burned.

‘‘We’re not sure of the cause of ignition but we’re treating it as suspicious as a teenager was seen in the area shortly before the fire and there’s no obvious ignition,’’ Ellington said.

He said there had been a history of suspicious fires in Northboro Reserve.

Crews used a portable pump to extinguish the fire, pumping water from a nearby creek up to the scrub fire.

Ellington said police were investigating the incident.

A witness, who did not want to be named, had seen the smoke coming from the reserve while walking her dog.

‘‘You could see lots of little flames all around the ground, At one point, it went ‘whoosh’.’’

She said another walker had called the fire service and it had been difficult for the crews to find because the reserve has many accesspoints.

Police were also called to the bush fire and were asking anyone with information to contact either Waitemata Police on 09 839 0600 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

They had exhausted lines of enquiry and were looking for more information, a spokeswoman said.

ZIZI SPARKS/STUFF Roughly 30 square metres of shrub has been burnt.