Media Release

Part of a Lower Hutt residential street remains cordoned off today while Fire and Police investigators attempt to determine the cause of a large blaze that has destroyed or extensively damaged 6 addresses.

An unoccupied address under construction in Cornwall Street was discovered well alight by a passing Police patrol at about 1.30 am this morning.

Numerous fire appliances struggled to contain the fire that was fanned by strong and blusterous winds. Before the fire was controlled 4 neighbouring addresses were extensively damaged with others suffering smoke damage.

Detective Sergeant Mike Sears of the Lower Hutt CIB said "This was an incredibly dangerous situation. Emergency staff, assisted by members of the public, did an outstanding job evacuating all those exposed to risk despite the obvious risks to their own safety. It is amazing that no-one was physically harmed."

Given the extent of the damage it will take some time before we are in a position to determine the cause of the fire. At this stage we are simply not in a position to say if it was deliberately lit or not.

Despite this we urgently need to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time, regardless of whether they think they saw anything suspicious or not." Please call the Lower Hutt Police on 5602600.

Please view the full details of the alert online at:

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/21583.html

ENDS

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