Christchurch police investigating the fire at Antonio Hall are treating the blaze as “unexplained.

Riccarton Road was closed last night while emergency services dealt to the fire at the abandoned property.

The fire started in one of the kitchens and took just over an hour to extinguish.

The property has been targeted by arsonists several times.

A police spokesman said police are investigating a building fire on Riccarton Road last night.

“At this stage the fire is being treated as unexplained.”