Patients reassured records safe after fire engulfs doctor's surgery

Patients of an Auckland doctor's surgery razed by fire this morning have been reassured their medical records are safe and there is alternative care for them.

Mt Albert residents woke to the sound of crackling and glass shattering as Four Kauri Medical Centre on New North Rd was engulfed about 7.30am.

More than 40 fire fighters were required to bring the major fire under control, and extinguished it about an hour later.

Medical centre spokeswoman, Dr Sarah Stewart, said patients were advised to attend the nearby St Lukes White Cross at 52 St Lukes Rd, where a room had been set up to treat patients.

Phone lines had been diverted to the regular afterhours service, Homecare Medical.

Dr Stewart apologised for any disruptions to patients, and thanked the centre's neighbours that called 111.

"We're so grateful to our neighbours who called the Fire [Service]; they were able to contain the fire to the front of the building.

"We're also incredibly thankful our patients who have given us so much support."

Sylila Monteiro lives right next door to the clinic, and said her family was woken by the blaze.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR PHOTOS?

"We were all sleeping because we are not going to work until this afternoon and suddenly my son woke up and said, 'Call the fire, call the police'.

"We heard the alarm and we heard the crackling and crashing and shattering of glass.

"We saw the whole house go up [in flames]."

Mrs Monteiro said smoke was billowing from the property.

"It was oozing out of all the eaves and the roof, there were flames there, too.

"The flames were sky high and there are so many trees and greenery that we were worried it would reach our house as well."

Fire Service shift manager Paul Radden said the fire reached second alarm and required eight fire appliances plus extra support staff to attend.

"Just after 7.30am we received multiple calls to a property fire on New North Rd near St Lukes Rd," he said.

"The first responding crew found the property to be well involved in fire."

The fire gutted Four Kauri Family Medical Centre. Photo / Dan Hines, NZ Herald

He said the 30m x 30m property was severely damaged by the fire, that was extinguished at about 8.30am.

"It was contained to that property and no fire spread to any other buildings."

In total, 40 Fire Service staff were required at the scene.

There were no reports of people being at the property at the time, or of injuries.

Mr Radden said sections of the road would be closed to accommodate the large Fire Service presence.

Emergency services were called to the blaze this morning. Photo / Supplied

Motorists were advised to avoid the area.

Fire investigators were now working to determine the cause of the fire.

There was no early indication as to what may have caused the blaze, Mr Radden said.

Road diversions were cleared about 8.45am, and one fire appliance remained at the scene.