Suspects in arson series

Alexandra police investigating the series of deliberately-lit fires in the town have received a couple of names of possible suspects.

Central Otago sub-area police commander Senior Sergeant Jill Woods met the Vincent Community Board yesterday to discuss a range of issues and was asked about the investigation into the four suspicious fires in the Pines reserve recently.

Snr Sgt Woods said the team working on the investigation had been contacted by members of the public with "a couple of suggestions as to who the person [lighting the fires] might be".

Those leads were being followed, she said.

Police and fire authorities warned earlier this week that whoever was lighting the fires was placing lives at risk.