Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Fire and Emergency says it has twice before attended suspicious fires at an abandoned Levin building destroyed in a blaze overnight – most recently just over a month ago.
Crews alerted to the fire just before 4am today found the former Garden View resthome on Bath Street well involved when they arrived.
Manawatū-Whanganui assistant commander Craig Gold said crews were familiar with the two-storey property, and knew it was already scheduled for demolition.
He said 80 percent of the building was destroyed, with just two small walls still standing.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said, at its peak, six fire appliances, a ladder truck, and a command unit attended from six fire stations.
Now two fire trucks are attending and one crew will be present for much of the day.
The spokesperson said the fire was being treated as suspicious.