The Nelson Fire department is highlighting the serious dangers surrounding the suspicious blaze in the Academy of Oriental Sciences building on the weekend.
Assistant Chief Mike Daloise says that building is old and does not have modern fire separation and retardant specifications.
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Fortunately people were home and heard the localised alarm go off in the building.
But Daloise says the device does not alert the fire department directly.
The fire -in the wee hours of Saturday morning – is not deemed natural or mechanical in nature.