Oamaru police are treating a spectacular fire which ripped through trees at Waitaki Boys' High School as suspicious.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire investigator was at the scene yesterday.
Sergeant Blair Wilkinson said they had identified "several individuals" to be spoken to as part of inquiries.
Fire rages in the treeline near sports fields at Waitaki Boy's High School. PHOTO: NIC DUFF
The fire had previously been treated as "unexplained".
About 200m of trees along the end of the school's Don Field was engulfed in flames yesterday.
Waitaki Boys' High School rector Darryl Paterson said he was relieved no-one was hurt and that there was “no major damage” to any major school assets, in particular the caretaker's house which was “very close to the fire”.
The fire had severely damaged the pine hedge on the eastern boundary of Don Field.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said crews responded to a call just before 9am.
Four fire trucks were on the scene with all firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
