By rnz.co.nz and republished with permission
Police are investigating possible arsons after fires at multiple churches in Masterton.
Flames can be seen in the dark through the windows at this Masterton church, as firefighters tackled the blaze early on Saturday. Photo: Supplied/ Fire and Emergency Wellington
Emergency services from the town responded to four different fires at churches on Saturday morning, with the first reported at 4:25am, police said.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said “damage to the churches ranged from moderate to significant”.
“The fires are being treated as suspicious and have been referred to police,” they said.
The blazes were all thought to have started between 4:25am and 4:35am, and were found at: Anglican Church Of The Epiphany, St Patrick’s Catholic Church Masterton, Masterton Baptist Church and Equippers Church Masterton, FENZ said.
Police said they checked on other churches in the town after the blazes were discovered, and had found evidence three other churches had been targeted but did not catch alight.
Damage at one of the four Masterton churches where fires took hold, early on Saturday 22 February. Photo: Supplied/ Fire and Emergency Wellington
The three additional sites were also all in Masterton: St James Union Church on High Street; the Kingdom Hall, also on High Street, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the suburb of Lansdowne, police said.
Police officers will remain at the churches through Saturday morning with firefighters, and will be patrolling Masterton, Featherson and Carterton.
FENZ said crews had responded from throughout the Wairarapa region and from as far away as Avalon Station, in Lower Hutt.
