Smoke billows from plastic factory fire in Kerikeri

Kerikeri Fire Brigade's water tanker arrives as smoke billows from the Promax plastic tank factory on Waipapa Rd. Photo / Peter de Graaf

About 20 firefighters from around the Mid North battled a blaze at a plastics factory in Kerikeri yesterday.

The fire started about 2.50pm in an industrial oven used for making large plastic tanks at Promax, at the Waipapa end of Waipapa Rd.

Black smoke could be seen billowing from the eaves and doors of a large industrial shed.

Firefighters responded from Kerikeri, Okaihau and Paihia, with rotating crews using breathing apparatus to enter the building. It is not thought any workers were hurt.

Okaihau firefighters don breathing apparatus before entering the plastic factory. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A strong smell of burning plastic prompted staff at a downwind childcare centre to keep the children indoors until the fire was out. Police had initially considered evacuating the youngsters.

Fire and Emergency Muriwhenua area commander Wipari Henwood said the first fire crews needed some time to establish a water supply. Once that was done they were able to go in to contain the fire to the oven.

When the fire was out, about 3.45pm, they allowed a cooling off period before opening the oven and verifying it had been extinguished.

Waipapa Rd was down to one lane at times as firefighters laid hoses across the road from the nearest hydrant on the corner of Mawson Ave. Fire tankers and even a commercial water tanker shuttled water to the fire pumps.

The cause of the blaze, or the effect it will have on production, was not known at edition time yesterday.

Promax makes large tanks for industrial, transport, farm and domestic use. The company also produces septic tanks and even dog kennels.