An angry and disgusted Papamoa community is on alert after a spate of suspicious fires police say could be linked.
The latest of six suspicious fires has substantially damaged part of the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) development and comes just weeks after the old Papamoa Hall burned down.
The latest fire has devastated and enraged Papamoa residents, with the potential to delay completion of the road that many in the community have worked hard to build.
Black smoke was seen from across Papamoa on Thursday night, billowing out of the Domain Rd overpass structure, prompting multiple 111 calls.
Yesterday, police revealed the latest fire was suspicious and an arson investigation was under way.
Mount Maunganui and Papamoa ward councillor Steve Morris said it was ridiculous to see a second major fire in the area in a matter of weeks.
"It reminded me of the Ruapehu eruption. It was thick black smoke."
He said there was shared community anger and disappointment after two major fires, at similar times of the day, in a matter of weeks.
"There's obviously someone out there that has local knowledge and people are now keeping their eyes open. It's only a matter of time until the sucker is caught."
Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said it was likely the offender had since bragged about the significant fire and he was keen to hear from anyone who had heard anything.
"We are looking at all these suspicious fires. We understand there are probably four or five in rubbish bins.
"We are going to look at this and see if there are any connections between these and this particular arson and the Papamoa Hall arson," he said.
Police concluded the TEL fire was deliberately lit, based on where the fire started and security. "Any arson like this is complete senseless, intentional, destruction of property.
"People who do this don't know the consequences, and it could very well be that people get caught in these fires and that's how people lose their lives."
Tauranga clinical and forensic psychologist Leanne Dunne said fire starters were usually provoked by one of three motives - reckless and impulsive adolescents who did not consider consequences, people with deeper psychological issues and anger, or people who were addicted to lighting and watching fires.
"If they've got a true addiction for lighting fires, they do usually enjoy standing and watching the fire and the emergency services coming to fight it. They get a sense of control. They enjoy the fact they created that pandemonium and caused all those people to come out and rush around.
"They enjoy the rush and adrenalin and watching it, and the risk of getting caught."
Papamoa deputy chief fire officer Brent Sandford said firefighters had struggled to gain access to the flaming polystyrene inside the concrete structure.
It took five fire trucks and about 24 people nearly four hours until they could leave the scene safely.
He said it was about the sixth suspicious fire they had had in the area since the old Papamoa Hall had burnt down, mostly small rubbish fires.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional director Harry Wilson said the extent of the damage would not be clear until the site was deemed safe, and engineers had a chance to investigate and carry out strengthening tests of the concrete and steel beams.
"Fire inspectors attended the site this morning and have now handed it over to transport agency contractors, who are securing the area.
"Our engineers will come in next week to discuss how to dismantle damaged areas and what reconstruction methods are available."
Rosalie Crawford, administrator of the Papamoa Facebook page, said people were disgusted.
"The reaction is just dismay, disgust, absolute bewilderment that someone would do such a destructive act."
Papamoa Plaza owner David Hill said the community was keen to find out what had happened.
"It was horrifying to hear it was arson. That's devastating for the community. Everyone is very supportive of the TEL. It's all been exciting because we have had the end in mind. If there is a delay, it will certainly be disappointing," he said.