Police are investigating a suspicious fire in a stack of straw bales on a rural North Otago property earlier this week, which could cost a farmer close to $10,000.
Yesterday, Constable Craig Bennett, of Kurow, said the fire on Smillies Rd, inland from Black Point, was noticed by a member of the public about 4pm on Tuesday.
The stack of 70 to 80 oat and barley straw bales had been there since February, so there was no chance of heat build-up, Const Bennett said.
Fire personnel from Duntroon, Kurow and Weston were involved.
The bales were worth $60 to $70 each, and there were other costs associated with the fire, including redrilling the paddock.
Const Bennett said was following some "strong leads" and wanted to hear from anyone who had seen vehicles or activity in the area.
Const Bennett was also following "a few positive leads" in connection with a spate of suspicious fires in Kurow last week.
