Tavernfire could have been arson
The fire that destroyed a once popular Waikato watering hole could have been started by an arsonist.
Tokoroa’s Trees Tavern was ravaged by fire in the early hours of Sunday, November 19 last year with 13 fire crews and 30 fire fighters from across the mid-North Island responding to the blaze.
In his report, obtained by Waikato Times under the Official Information Act, specialist fire investigator Stu Craddock said he could not determine the cause of the fire conclusively, but did not rule out arson as one of three possible causes.
“Based on the evidence available at the time of this investigation, the cause of this incident has been recorded as undetermined, with three possible scenarios considered.
“Incendiary fire (arson), carelessness with a cigarette, or carelessness with a naked flame. There was no evidence present that indicated the fire had resulted from an electrical event,” Craddock said.
He said initial reports from firefighters on-site suggested the fire was “suspicious” and the building did not have any automatic fire protection installed.
“The Trees Tavern lost its liquor licence in about 2021,” Craddock said in his report.
“It was subsequently closed and placed on the market. The Trees Tavern was purchased in February 2022, and due to the difficulty of obtaining a liquor licence to operate, the tavern had yet to open.
“The tavern was recently placed back on the market. The weather at the time of the fire was overcast, with no signs of adverse weather or lighting strikes,” he said.
Craddock believed the fire started in the southwest corner of the tavern but due to extensive fire damage he could not rule out other areas where it could have started.
“Due to the large, indicated area of origin inside the tavern, it would not be credible to determine the point of origin to an acceptable level.”
At the time, Tokoroa fire chief Dave Morris said the fire took roughly four hours to extinguish and saw crews “ranging from Taupō to Ngāruawāhia,” attend. He was one of the first to arrive and said the building was “flaming away quite nicely”.
South Waikato District Council communications manager Kerry Fabrie said the council would only get involved in the building’s demolition if it was deemed unsafe, but council was keen to see it pulled down.
“Council’s building staff have inspected the site and loose items that would be unsafe in for example high winds, have either been removed or secured.
“Council has not received any formal complaints requiring further inspections but will respond if that happens.”
Fabrie said a derelict burnt-out building was a poor look for any community.
“Its visible position from State Highway 1 passing traffic adds to the negative visual aesthetics along this main road into and out of Tokoroa.”