Source: Radio New Zealand
The fire broke out on Monday afternoon. Supplied / Givealittle
An Auckland BMX club’s canteen has been destroyed after a fire it believes was deliberately lit.
Police said emergency services were called to the blaze at Waitākere BMX club on Glen Road in Rānui just before 2pm on Monday.
The club has posted photos of the canteen on Facebook, which show the standalone container-like structure blackened inside and out.
“Hours of volunteer work go into keeping the Waitākere BMX Club running, providing a place for riders of all ages to enjoy the sport and community we’re so proud of,” it said on Monday evening.
“The canteen is a major source of income that helps fund everything we do, and now, not only have we lost that income, but we face the challenge of fundraising for repairs, replacements, and putting in endless volunteer hours once again because of this act of destruction.”
The kitchen area can be seen damaged by fire. Supplied / Givealittle
The club said a “dedicated team of volunteers” had been working most of the day to get the club ready for the new season, making the fire “even more heartbreaking”.
“To see all that effort undone so quickly is gutting.”
The club said it has footage of the fire being lit, which it has handed to the police, who are investigating.
“Despite this setback, we want to assure our members and families that club nights will continue as planned.”
The club said it was heartbroken by the fire. Supplied / Givealittle
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
