A FIRE erupted at Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon a few feet from the fire services department. However, all of its fire trucks were out on call.

Earlier that morning, the police had had conducted a routine controlled burn.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Quinn McCartney said during a press briefing at Police Headquarters that embers from the controlled burn may have landed on the roof of the Ranfurly House building and ignited the fire. He said smoke was seen coming from the building at about 2pm.

According to Mr McCartney, the fire services department often conducts controlled burns as a part of their drills and that they had conducted one at about 10am yesterday morning.

He said the fire grew quickly because the building’s roof is made of timber, and that it was able to spread as quickly as it did because the fire service’s equipment was off the compound when the fire was noticed. The fire crew were off the premises on routine business and returned as soon as they were notified.

He said the building, which was not in use at the time, was being renovated.