Auckland CBD blaze: Fire and Emergency at a 12-storey building on Fanshawe St

It's unclear how much damage has been done to an office building in central Auckland after a fire broke out at the premises this morning.

Fire and Emergency responded to the smoke-logged Group M building on Fanshawe St near the corner of Federal St at 8.20am.

Fire and Emergency personnel at a 12-storey building on Fanshawe St, Auckland. Photo / Lane Nichols

A fire and emergency spokesperson said they were called to the scene and found the fire in the ceiling of the first-floor carpark. The fire has now been extinguished.

Fanshawe St was closed between Albert St and Hobson St in downtown Auckland.

Buses and cars were re-routed.

A witness said there was a strong smell of smoke. The lower floors of the building appeared to be smoke logged, with no visibility into the windows.

Fire and Emergency respond to the smoke-logged Group M building on Fanshawe St. Photo / Lane Nichols

Fire and Emergency said 18 fire appliances attended the blaze.

Firefighters with oxygen tanks were assessing the building's upper floors from aerial units.

A ground crew appeared to be preparing to enter the building's main entrance with hoses.

St John was not called to the scene.

Fanshawe St is closed between Albert St and Hobson St while Fire and Emergency respond to the building fire. Photo / Lane Nichols

The witness said he could see at least eight fire trucks plus several other Fire and Emergency New Zealand vehicles.

There were sirens ringing out across the city as more emergency services personnel arrived on the scene.

FANSHAWE ST CITY CENTRE – INCIDENT – 8:55AM
An incident has CLOSED as section of Fanshawe St between Albert St and Hobson St. More to come when know. Be prepared for some delays to traffic and bus services operating on this route. Follow the detour. ^MF pic.twitter.com/dgNG3uzeQe

— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) October 4, 2020

Water was flowing down Federal St as FENZ personnel attached hoses in preparation for entering the building to fight the blaze.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered nearby to watch the action unfold. Traffic and commuter buses were backed up along Fanshawe St, which had been completely blocked off by two FENZ aerial units parked horizontally across the street.

Police said officers are assisting with traffic management with cordons in place on Hobson St and Fanshawe St.

A spokesman said just before 9.30am that those cordons are expected to be lifted shortly.

Media company GroupM moved 120 employees into the building on February 2016.