The remains of the site on Monday.

A disused part of a Porirua shopping centre is being treated as a likely crime scene after it was burned down in a late-night fire.

About 40 firefighters and 11 fire engines were needed to quell the blaze at the former site of the Graffiti Bar, in Mentor Lane, Cannons Creek, which began about 11pm on Sunday.

The flames were so fierce that curtains in the nearby Porirua Whanau Centre melted against the windows, centre chief executive Liz Kelly said on Monday.

Liz Kelly Kelly says the area has attracted young people who go there to smoke.

Paul Wahid, who runs the nearby SuperValu store, said the site had attracted trouble, with children climbing on to the buildings and getting inside.

READ MORE:

* Neighbours praised for raising alarm about house fire in Porirua

* Family fights flames but loses everything in Porirua house fire

* House fire in Porirua on Christmas Day

"There's a lot of kids, young kids, out on the roof all the time."

STEVEN BEDDIE More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze in Porirua overnight.

The fire had caused a power outage, which was still affecting the shops into the next day.

"It's costing all of us big time. All the freezers [are off]."

His colleague, Jackson Singh, said he was working in the store on Sunday night when the blaze started at the front of the building nearby and smoke filled the sky.

JARED NICOLL/STUFF Police and a fire investigator were at the scene on Monday morning.

The flames were "higher than the [street] lights".

"One of the other boys, he ran in back in there, and he couldn't speak; he was just making these funny faces, and I said, 'Calm down, calm down'."

Fire and Emergency assistant area commander David Campbell said his officers' top priority was to stop the fire spreading to other shops.

JARED NICOLL/STUFF The burnt-out building was not being used, and was advertised for lease.

"It was burning very well by the time crews got there and had spread to an adjoining building."

Firefighters were faced with an indoor battle, full of machinery and debris.

"The structure was collapsing so I couldn't send anyone inside ... it was all [done] from the outside; surround and drown."

JARED NICOLL/STUFF The front of the burnt out former business.

A fire investigator was there on Monday, "having a rummage through the remains to locate a cause".

"It's probably been started by someone. It's probably a crime scene."

Kelly, a former Porirua deputy mayor, called for the site to be boarded up again, as it had been until recently.

She said she was told by Porirua City Council it was responsible only for council-owned buildings.

"I rang them up because the council has spent a lot of money becoming a world-accredited safe city," Kelly said.

"I pay a lot of rates to ensure we have a healthy and a safe city to live in, and this situation is not healthy and it is not safe."

Daniel Reeve, property manager for the Vishnu Trust, which owns the site, said it was not in use, but was being advertised for lease, and the trust still had plans for it.

"The goal of this venue was to bring something exciting, high-quality and family-friendly to Cannons Creek, while providing multicultural cuisine and between 10-12 jobs.

"Care, love and creativity were all poured into the venue, and everyone involved has been completely devastated by what has happened.



"Right now the trust is concentrating on cleanup, but they have never, and will never, let the site become derelict.

"Whatever is done in the future, the same goal will be kept: doing something that the people of Cannons Creek can be proud of."

He thanked police and firefighters for their efforts, and the community for its support.