An arsonist has struck again in Wanaka and must be stopped for both the community and the offender's sake, police and fire safety officers say.
A small grass fire was lit on roadside reserve on the corner of Stratford Tce and Chalmers St about 11pm on Tuesday night.
It occurred less than 24 hours after a parked car was set on fire early on Tuesday.
It was parked about 50m from the grass fire site, which is near the Wanaka golf course.
There have been four other small grass fires in the same location since January 9 and emergency service personnel are concerned such fires could spread through the secluded leafy neighbourhood and endanger people sleeping in nearby houses.
Wanaka Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell and Queenstown fire safety officer Stu Ide said yesterday the indications were the firebug was a juvenile, but they would investigate all leads and potential suspects.
"We are looking at developing the inquiry in a number of ways. Any help - names, anything - would be welcomed . . . I wouldn't dare have a fixed view it is a juvenile. If you get too closed in your thinking you could miss something in front of you," Snr Sgt Grindell said yesterday.
Mr Ide said several factors indicated the offender was a juvenile, but he would not discount anyone else.
"The indications being the time of year, warm summer nights, school holidays and the way the fires are being set. These would indicate a juvenile or young adult. They are only indicators. We have got to keep an open mind on it.
"But we would like parents to be aware of what their children are doing at night. . . Whoever it is must be stopped. It is very frightening for the community," Mr Ide said.
Mr Ide said the person must also be stopped for their own sake, because the culprit appeared set on a path that would end up in court.
Snr Sgt Grindell said no leads had developed from yesterday's publicity in newspapers.
A lot of people were about on Tuesday night at the time of the grass fire and several of those had been contacted yesterday, without a breakthrough.
