He said a 29-year-old man was arrested and charged with wilfully setting fire to property and endangering life.
He made a brief appearance in the Rotorua District Court on Saturday morning and was remanded to reappear on September 11.
Police confirmed they were not looking for anyone else.
Debris from an apartment fire dropped on to the Fenton St footpath. Photo / Kelly Makiha
The fire caused debris from the apartments to drop on to the nearby footpath.
A couple who live at the apartments told the Rotorua Daily Post they appreciated how quickly emergency services arrived.
The woman said she was asleep when her partner came in telling her they needed to get out.
“We heard the alarm sound and some smoke coming out of the room … I was fast asleep and my husband was watching a movie. All of a sudden we had to get out and when we did the police were already there.”
The man said they were moved to the Novotel Rotorua for the rest of the night and their landlord made arrangements yesterday for alternative accommodation at neighbouring Park Central Rotorua, formerly Four Canoes Hotel.
A man has been charged following a fire at a Fenton St apartment. Photo / Kelly Makiha
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said the apartment, which was about 30m by 8m, was well involved in fire when firefighters arrived at about midnight.
Five fire trucks and firefighters were called to battle the blaze — including two from Rotorua, two from Ngongotahā and one from Mamaku.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.