Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Kerikeri shed razed in massive fire

By Peter de Graaf
Reporter·Northern Advocate·
21 Nov, 2020 02:12 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The flames were so intense firefighters were forced to retreat at one point. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The flames were so intense firefighters were forced to retreat at one point. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A massive shed fire on the outskirts of Kerikeri is now under control but firefighters are expected to be at the scene dampening down well into Saturday evening.

The blaze, on Kapiro Rd, off State Highway 10 north of Kerikeri, destroyed a large steel building originally built as a packing shed.

An adjoining building, which appeared to be a dwelling or offices, was also razed.

A thick column of black smoke could be seen as far away as Kerikeri Domain, where a few thousand people had gathered for the annual half marathon prizegiving and a skateboarding contest.

The column of smoke could be seen from Kerikeri's town centre, a distance of about 8km. Photo / Peter de Graaf
The column of smoke could be seen from Kerikeri's town centre, a distance of about 8km. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The alarm was raised about 12.40pm with firefighters responding from Kerikeri, Ōkaihau and the recently established Bay of Islands Airport Rescue Fire.

The firefighters had to wear breathing apparatus to fight flames which at their peak were leaping up to 10m in the air.

At one point the fire was so intense firefighters had to retreat.

It is not thought anyone was injured but that could not be immediately confirmed.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Another house on the same property was saved.

The blaze is believed to be the biggest fought by the Kerikeri Fire Brigade this year and the biggest commercial building fire in many years.

The shed starts to collapse as the fire rages on. Photo / Peter de Graaf
The shed starts to collapse as the fire rages on. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A lack of reticulated water was a problem with fire trucks having to shuttle water from a hydrant about 1km east on Kapiro Rd. A bulk water tanker was also called in.

Another challenge for the firefighters was the presence of large gas cylinders, some containing highly flammable acetylene, used for welding. They had to be cooled with jets of water to reduce the risk of an explosion.

The fire was under control by 2pm.

By then the shed had started to collapse and the other building was burnt almost to the ground.

Fire safety officers will begin an investigation once the fire is fully extinguished.

Police also attended. Kapiro Rd was not closed during the blaze but there were delays as fire trucks came and went.

The Kerikeri-based Rapid Relief Team, made up of Brethren Church volunteers, assisted with traffic control and providing drinking water for exhausted firefighters.

An alternative event to the Kerikeri Street Party, held every year after the half marathon but cancelled this year due to uncertainty around the Covid-19 pandemic, is being held this evening at nearby Kainui Rd Vineyard. However, the wind is blowing smoke from the fire in the opposite direction, away from the vineyard.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

Far North homes without power after severe gales

Northern Advocate

'Economic growth is key': Luxon discusses Northland's potential with iwi

Northern Advocate

Northland businesses unite for CCTV initiative to combat crime


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

Far North homes without power after severe gales
Northern Advocate

Far North homes without power after severe gales

More than 170 customers south of Cape Rēinga are still without power.

17 Jul 08:26 AM
'Economic growth is key': Luxon discusses Northland's potential with iwi
Northern Advocate

'Economic growth is key': Luxon discusses Northland's potential with iwi

17 Jul 06:02 AM
Northland businesses unite for CCTV initiative to combat crime
Northern Advocate

Northland businesses unite for CCTV initiative to combat crime

17 Jul 04:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP