Central Auckland hotel evacuated after construction skip catches fire behind building

Smoke spread into the hotel, forcing guests to evacuate mid check-out. Photo / Dean Purcell

Guests at a hotel in central Auckland were evacuated this morning after a fire broke out in a large construction bin behind the building.

The fire started at about 10.30am in Durham Lane, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said.

The fire was extinguished, but the resulting smoke drifted into the Auckland Central Edit Hotel on Victoria St, leading to guests being evacuated.

Smoke from the blaze filled the Edit Hotel, forcing guests outside. Photo / Dean Purcell

At the time, many guests were checking out.

Several fire appliances and the police attended the incident and at 11.30am a cordon was lifted, and guests were allowed to return.

There are not believed to be any injuries.

The blaze started in a large construction skip behind the central city hotel. Photo / Dean Purcell

Outside the hotel, Hayley and Matt Bonsor said the alarm went off at about 10.30am. They hadn’t been told anything about the incident.

“Hopefully they will extend the checkout time,” the Christchurch couple said.

Jessica Dalglish and Emalea Perrin, in Auckland for last night’s Rufus du Sol concert at Western Springs, said they could detect a faint smell of smoke when the alarm went off and they were told to leave the building.

Multiple fire crews and police attended. No injuries were reported. Photo / Dean Purcell

The hotel’s duty manager said she could not comment on the incident.

The Edit hotel is located at Victoria St East, a short walk to the Sky Tower, has 109 rooms, and is marketed as an affordable hotel.

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