Mentality of arsonist questioned | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A Waikuku rest home owner is questioning the mentality of an arsonist who purposely put the lives of 13 elderly people, and staff, at risk in an early-morning attack on his premises.

Police are hunting the dangerous arsonist after fires destroyed two vehicles and a shed at the Ashbridge rest home early last Sunday.

"It's absolutely unbelievable that somebody would do this, whether it's a vendetta against me, or just a random act of violence," Ashbridge owner/manager Peter Fitt said.

"If the wind had been blowing the other way, we would almost certainly have lost part of the building."

Mr Fitt said his private Audi Quattro car and a staff member's 10-seater Mercedes-Benz minivan that was being lent to the rest home for trips and outings for residents were destroyed. He estimated the cost of damage at up to $100,000 "and that excludes the time and inconvenience to the rest home staff".

Volunteer firefighters from Woodend and Rangiora found the Audi and Mercedes-Benz well ablaze, along with a shed used to store wheelchairs and bed frames when they arrived at the MacDonalds Lane property shortly after the 6.39am callout.

Fire investigators said two fires were lit deliberately - one between the Audi and the Mercedes-Benz parked close to the main building and another at the front of the rest home's storage shed nearby.

A third vehicle belonging to a staff member received only minor cosmetic damage from smoke and sparks.

Mr Fitt said regular fire drills enabled staff to quickly evacuate the rest home, with sleeping residents escorted to safety in just five minutes.

He said none of the residents was bed-bound and all were guided safely from the building, some using their walking frames.

Most residents had taken the emergency in their stride, but some required "a little extra TLC (tender loving care)".

Detective Aaron George, of the Rangiora police, said there was no apparent motive for the arsons.