An earlier version of this story quoted a Fire and Emergency New Zealand statement describing the incident as a building fire at Pit Stop Taupō. We have since learned an adjoining building was also affected, and that damage was more significant to that premises than to Pit Stop Taupō.
A 53-year-old man has been charged with arson following a suspicious fire that damaged multiple commercial premises on Oruanui Street in Taupō late Tuesday night.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire around 10.30pm on 3 February, with Fire and Emergency New Zealand dispatching six crews from Lake Taupō, Kinloch and Tokoroa to the scene. They suppressed the fire by 12.19am and extinguished all hotspots by 3.57am.
According to a Police statement, one property sustained substantial damage, and spread to the adjoining building, which sustained minor fire damage.
The premises were unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported.
A fire investigator inspected the scene on Wednesday morning and determined the fire had been lit deliberately.
Police evidence led to the arrest of a 53-year-old man, who appeared in Taupō District Court today. He has been remanded in custody until 17 March.
Police say they cannot comment further as the matter is now before the courts.
