Hastings Police are investigating after a string of suspicious fires were discovered in the centre of the city overnight.
The first blaze was lit at the Opera House building on the corner of Eastbourne St and Hastings St on Sunday evening. Police were alerted at 10:15pm by a crew at a different fire job nearby.
It's believed one or more intruders entered the historic place and set the fire.
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Nine fire engines spent three hours putting out the fire, with all resources going toward saving the century-old building which was built in 1915.
Soon afterwards a second fire was discovered at the Lighthouse building, a day centre which offers mental health services, on Queen St East.
Early on Monday morning a third fire occurred outside the Bay Plaza shopping centre.
All three fires were within 1km of each other. Police are treating the incidents as suspicious and want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between 9pm on Sunday and 5am on Monday.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Ryan Kemsley at ryan.kemsley@police.govt.nz or call 06 831 0700.
Newshub.
