The targeting of a Coastguard building and a nearby digger by an alleged firebug has left Ōpōtiki Coastguard President Ron Jones wondering why anyone would target a voluntary organisation.
Emergency services were called to the digger fire at 3:10am on Monday morning.
The digger, belonging to HEB Construction, was being used on the nearby wharf redevelopment.
As construction workers arrived at the site this morning, they also discovered the nearby Coastguard building had been broken into, and a fire started.
"[They] smashed the front door then came upstairs and set fire to a bunch of books," Jones told Newshub.
The books smouldered for several hours, filling the building with smoke.
The books contained learning records for volunteers.
Jones said the fire was unable to take hold, but the amount of damage done was still devastating.
"I am trying to think of 'nice words'," Jones said, "all I can say is WHY, in capital letters."
Jones said while they have insurance, they will still need to go through the process of cleaning up and fixing the damage.
The history that was in the books has also been lost.
The scene of the fire is currently under police guard, with investigators from both CIB and Fire and Emergency looking into the causes.
"Police are looking to see whether there is any link between the break-in and the digger fire. At this stage they are being treated independently," a spokesperson said.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson confirmed they are both being treated as suspicious.
