Police interview 13-year-old girl in investigation over suspicious fire at Wagga's Uneke Lounge

Uneke Longue was re-opened this week after it was hit by a suspicious fire earlier this month. Photo: Facebook.

Riverina Police investigators have spoken to a 13-year-old girl as part of their inquiry into a suspicious fire at a Wagga Wagga cafe.

Emergency services were called to Uneke Lounge, a two-storey business at the corner of Fitzmaurice and Kincaid streets, at around 11 pm on Monday 20 January following reports of a fire.

Twenty Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze. The building sustained smoke and water damage.

The fire is believed to have started in the shrubs outside the building on Kincaid Street and is being treated as suspicious.

Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Following inquiries, officers from Riverina Police District spoke to the 13-year-old at Wagga Wagga Police Station at about 5:30 pm on Friday (24 January).

Police say the teenager was dealt with under the Young Offenders Act, legislation that is enacted for children who commit offences.

Under the Young Offenders Act, authorities generally try to find alternatives to the criminal justice system to deal with alleged perpetrators under the age of 18, such as by using mediation conferences instead of court hearings, for example.

Police have also spoken to a second teenager in relation to the fire, as their inquiries continue.

On Monday (27 January), Uneke Lounge announced on social media that the cafe had returned to its usual trading hours and resumed online bookings.