Kerikeri, Okaihau and Paihia firefighters called to Waipapa Rd on October 24 after fire breaks out in a large storage shed used by a music and stage production company.
A music business a Northland man built up over decades has been wiped out in a massive fire.
Yesterday's blaze in a 25m steel shed on Waipapa Rd, Kerikeri, destroyed a vast quantity of sound, lighting and musical equipment used in concerts and community events all over Northland.
Firefighters attack the side of the shed to stop the fire spreading to a neighbour's property. Photo/Peter de Graaf
Owner Tony Harrison, of the Music Workshop, is understood to have been driving his wife and their young child to Auckland Airport at the time of the fire. She is on her way to visit family overseas.
Harrison is a key figure in the music and entertainment scene in the North and is well known for his generosity and support for community events.
He founded the Be Free music and life skills mentoring programme, which aimed to steer at-risk youth away from drugs by getting them involved in writing and performing music.
Mr Harrison chaired the trust for 10 years and some of his graduates are carving out careers in music.
He is also a staunch supporter of community events, providing sound and light equipment and doing the mixing, at heavily discounted rates to non-profit or cash-strapped groups.
Neighbour Wendy Stanmore was the first to raise the alarm about 12.50pm yesterday. She went into her bedroom, which faces the shed, and saw smoke coming out of the roof.
When the first firefighters arrived a few minutes later the eight-bay shed was well alight.
"It's very sad. It's his business and he's a very hard-working man. The whole family's hard-working. They'll be devastated," she said.
Muriwhenua fire commander Wipari Henwood said the shed was packed with the owner's lighting and musical equipment, "all his life's possessions".
When Kerikeri Fire Brigade arrived a skylight has fallen in and flames were venting out the roof.
The heat was enough to ignite a Mercedes parked between the shed and the neighbour's fence. Photo/Peter de Graaf
Two appliances and a tanker from Kerikeri were backed up by crews from Paihia and Okaihau.
The shed was locked so firefighters in breathing apparatus forced their way in through a roller door and found a "considerable fire" inside. While some attacked the fire from the inside others ensured it did not spread to other buildings or the neighbouring property.
A family member was initially concerned when Mr Harrison could not be accounted for. After some phone calls it transpired he had taken his wife and child to Auckland.
Firefighters carried out another search once the fire was out to make sure, Mr Henwood said.
By 2pm the fire was out with the exception of a car parked beside the shed which was ignited by the heat. A fuel leak, coupled with its position between the shed and a fence, made it difficult to extinguish.
Firefighters put metal ramps over the fire hose so cars could still get past on Waipapa Rd. Photo/Peter de Graaf
With the hydrant on the other side of Waipapa Rd, firefighters placed metal ramps over the hoses so cars could still get past.
The road remained open while firefighters battled the blaze, but was reduced to one lane, causing traffic to back up. Mr Henwood said it was not immediately clear how the fire had started. A fire investigator inspected the shed yesterday afternoonin a bid to find the cause.
Sound engineer Merv Pinny, who regularly works with Harrison, said he doubted any of the equipment would be salvageable. All that remained was a mixing desk Mr Harrison had taken to Auckland for an upgrade.
"He works really hard and tries his best to put on a good show. I also really respect the way he does community work, and I've enjoyed doing it with him."
Family members Jessica Dromgool and Beau Harrison have started a Givealittle page to help their dad rebuild his business and his life. Go to https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/themusicworkshop to donate.
