Pakowhai Rd closed as firefighters battle Hastings house fire

Smoke from a fire on Pakowhai Rd on Monday morning. Photo / Michaela Gower

A busy road in Hastings is closed as emergency services battle a fire in a residential building.

Police say they assisted with road closures at a building fire on Pakowhai Road in Hastings, Frimley, which was reported about 9.30am on Monday.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand are at the scene and the road is closed between Duke St and Frederick St.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said at 11.02am six fire trucks from Napier and Hastings were actively fighting the fire, which appeared to be in a residential property.

“About 80% of the structure is well involved in fire, so there is extensive damage to it - they are still at work extinguishing the fire.”

By 1.20pm, two fire trucks remained at the scene of the 20m by 15m single-storey house fire.

The spokesperson was unaware if anybody was inside at the time of the fire or if anyone had been injured.

“The initial call we got was for a lot of smoke in the area, so we sent a fire truck to have a look and came across the building on fire.”

The spokesperson said the fire investigator was at the scene to determine a cause.

Eco Lodge Pakowhai manager John Lowe confirmed the nearby lodge was not involved.

It is understood that the fire is also not at the Gracelands Retirement Village.

“We are over 100m and two hedges away and didn’t see or hear anything, but we heard all the fire engines,” Lowe said.

Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area if possible.

Police cordon off Pakowhai Rd after a building fire on Monday. Photo / Michaela Gower