70 firefighters battle blaze at Kumeū battery recycling centre

Seventy firefighters have battled a massive fire at a battery recycling plant overnight in Kumeū.

Fire and Emergency said they were called to the scene on Main Rd in Kumeū around 10.05pm last night.

They responded with eight fire trucks and two aerial appliances and had 70 firefighters battling the blaze at its peak.

“It’s about 50m by 10m in size,” a Fenz spokesperson said.

Assistant Commander Shaun Pilgrim said the fire was well-established upon arrival. He said they immediately called for back up from over a dozen fire stations across Auckland.

70 firefighters were battling a large blaze at a battery recycling centre and panel and paint shop. Photo / Hayden Woodward.

He said the back of the building had been “virtually destroyed” by the fire.

Although the fire was contained around midnight, crews remained on standby overnight.

A local told the Herald they were “absolutely gutted” for the owners.

“It’s been an absolute hell for them; they have had two major floods over the past few years and have finally rebuilt, and now it’s gone.

“I understand insurance was quite difficult for them to get, it’s been a battle.”

Fire and Emergency were called to the scene just after 10pm. Photo / Hayden Woodward.

Katie Oliver is a Christchurch-based Multimedia Journalist and breaking news reporter.