Preschool fire ‘suspicious’

A suspicious early-morning fire at a Nelson preschool is being investigated by police. Nelson Fire Service station officer Kevin O’Connor said firefighters were called to a blaze outside the Healthkids Preschool on Tipahi St around 1am yesterday, and found the preschool’s sign, three road cones and part of the fence on fire. ‘‘Everything about it was suspicious.’’ O’Connor said there was a risk the fire could have spread to nearby vegetation. A police spokeswoman said police were investigating. Healthkids Preschool board of trustees chairman Karl Hadfield said part of the playground had to be closed as a result of the fire, which also destroyed the centre’s phone line. A shade sail and part of the fence and sign at the front of the preschool were also damaged.