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A fire investigator’s report provided to police last week confirmed that a scrub fire in Mangawhai on the morning of Saturday, September 21, was suspicious.
It’s the fourth time in five years that a fire has been lit at the same location.
Warkworth Detective Brad Marshall said the fire would have taken considerable effort to start.
He said whether the damage was intentional or not, arson charges can still be applied if the fire was due to reckless behaviour.
Firefighters were called to the large scrub fire, near the Mangawhai Heads Surf Club, around 3am.
At the height of the blaze, 10 crews attended, including a helicopter.
The fire burned a large amount of vegetation and came dangerously close to a house, which meant the occupants had to be evacuated.
Waitemata North Police appealed to the public for help in identifying three individuals, two of whom arrived at the Surf Club carpark at 11.45pm, and one who arrived at 1.23am.
Anyone who can provide information or assist in identifying the pictured individuals should contact Detective Marshall on 021 191 4246 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
