Homes were evacuated early this morning following a significant fire at Antonio Hall in Upper Riccarton.

10 fire crews, including two aerial appliances, were called to the fire at the abandoned Hall on Riccarton Road at 3.30am.

The fire is being treated as suspicious.

The category 2 heritage building was badly damaged in a previous fire in 2019 and was damaged in the February 2011 earthquake.

Resident Sushil Manju Sharma, who lives next to the hall, said “around 3.30 AM, I heard some rain-like noise and the checked weather report on my mobile, but it was showing cloudy.”

“Then I saw sharp light through my curtain. I got up out of bed and saw through my bedroom window massive and tall flames.”

“I woke up my wife and son, picked up my necessary documents, and ran towards my car. By then there were about 5-6 fire trucks and heaps of police cars.”

“Police and surrounding people helped to evacuate other residents.”

He said he heard fireworks going off in the area that night.

Nearby residents in the vicinity of the have since been allowed to return to their homes and roads have reopened.