The investigation into what caused the fatal fire that claimed the life of Hamilton fireman Derek Lovell at a coolstore on Saturday could be some time away, a Fire Service spokesman said.
"We can't even start until we get a chance to talk to our firefighters who were
injured and that hasn't happened yet," said corporate communications manager Scott Sargentina.
The fire investigations team, which is likely to be resourced from outside the district, had still not been fully formed, although it is understood to include a senior investigator from the New South Wales Fire Brigades and Fire Services.
Mr Sargentina said at least five separate investigations were expected, with the Department of Labour, insurance loss assessors for the building and product within it, fire and accident investigators all about to start making inquiries.
"Then, of course, we've got the coroner's inquest as well.
"It could take a wee while to get to the bottom of everything."
When the Herald visited the smouldering remains of the Icepak coolstore yesterday, the sickly smell of animal fats lingered and several small fires were still burning three days after the initial explosion.
Nearby, large piles of metal from the coolstore were stacked in neat piles to be taken away for recycling and trucks emptied dairy products from one of the undamaged coolers.
Meanwhile, Environment Waikato and Hamilton City Council were working together to remove more than 200,000 litres of contaminated liquids and sludge from the site.
The fatty run-off had been put into large contaminant ponds dug beside the burning plant.
Environment Waikato resource use group manager Dennis Crequer said the dry conditions had stopped the contaminants from entering water courses and there had been no adverse effect on the nearby Waikato River.
Dr Anita Bell, medical officer at the Waikato District Health Board, said smoke from the burning building was unlikely to be toxic.
