KEY POINTS:
Fire investigators today hope to hunt through the wreckage to find the cause of the largest blaze in Auckland in decades.
The fire gutted a Penrose coolstore on Saturday night, and is not expected to be completely extinguished until tomorrow.
The Fire Service estimated the blaze reached temperatures
of over 1000C, destroying the old Southdown Freezing Works building with over 100 firefighters working in shifts overnight to contain the flames.
Yesterday, a demolition crane was used to help open up buildings, many of which were smoking as small fires burned during yesterday morning. It was still too dangerous for anyone to enter the buildings.
It is the second massive fire in the area this month after the Onehunga Mitre 10 burned to the ground.
Fire Service spokesman Scott Osmond said that at this stage there was "no suggestion" there was an arsonist in the area. Investigations would continue through the week.
As the building smouldered yesterday, Bill Puru stood with Graeme Torckler behind safety barriers in Penrose waiting for updates from firefighters who overnight battled yellow and green toxic smoke which could be seen as far away as Waiheke Island.
Their businesses - Mr Puru owns a surplus trading company while Mr Torckler owns a computer recycling operation - will now have to find new premises. The Southdown complex is also home to builders, landscapers and a fencing yard.
Mr Puru was at work when the fire started. His buildings, which are not connected to the main facilities, remained untouched.
"It's devastating for a lot of people here," he said.
"They'll be worried about their jobs, what's going to happen. It's quite a good whanau here, we try and work with each other. I've got to relocate. They're going to condemn the whole place."
Mr Puru said the site had electrical problems.
"The power here is a bit dodgy."
But businesses would be hard pressed the find better premises - the site was cheap, had plenty of space and good landlords, Mr Puru said.
Mr Torckler said owners were worried about stock losses - he had heard one business had lost goods valued at $500,000.
Meanwhile, the Auckland Medical Officer of Health said the fire might worsen asthma and cause people in the area to cough or get sore throats. Denise Barnfather said the risk to public health was "very low" but smoke and dust might cause problems for some people. Air tests showed the asbestos level was low.
Commuter trains are running to timetable this morning.
Veolia spokeswoman Silva Bassett said debris from the fire was cleared from the track by 10.00 last night.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Isaac Davison, NZPA
