By PATRICK GOWER
Rescue services began evacuating Otahuhu residents early today after a container of drums filled with chemicals caught fire.
Tranz Rail workers at the Saleyard Rd station called firefighters when they found a 100kg drum oozing chemicals and smoking after it had been accidentally punctured with a forklift.
The substance, sodium hydrosulphite, caught fire as it decomposed in contact with the atmosphere. The fire spread to other drums in the container.
Thirty people were moved to a safe house as police cordoned off the area.
Fire chief Martin Berryman said the area downwind of the blaze had been closed off because the substance could form large fiery dust clouds. Firefighters wearing respiratory gear tried to contain the blaze and isolate the drums.
Mr Berryman said staff were attacking the fire with a dry-powder unit from the Auckland Airport crash-tender.
He said the operation, which began at 8 pm, would continue at least through to morning.
"We're just lucky this is not in a built-up area or things could be a lot worse.
"We worried about vapours travelling downwind [but] the remoteness has assisted us quite considerably."
A Tranz Rail worker who briefly came into contact with the substance was treated at the scene by ambulance staff.
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