Firefighters attend to the blaze at City Garden Lodge in Parnell. Photo / Frank Mair
Smoke billows from a fire in Parnell. Photo / Fran Heenan
Lane said Fenz originally received a call via the lodge’s fire alarm system and soon after had multiple calls about the fire.
“The fire has engulfed the attic area and spread down to the first floor,” he said.
Ten crews would remain on-site overnight alongside a number of support vehicles.
“Our crews have been using a ladder truck to pour water on the fire and this seems to have knocked it back well... The fire is now contained, but crews will remain on standby overnight,” Lane said.
Lane added evacuations were undertaken. An investigation into the cause of the fire will commence tomorrow.
The public is asked to avoid the area while emergency services remain at the scene.
A witness told the Herald flames appeared to be about “20 feet [6m] high”.
A police spokesperson said they had been notified of the “well-involved building fire” on St Georges Bay Rd.
“Fire and Emergency crews are working to contain the fire and police are assisting with traffic management.”
Police said there are no immediate concerns about anyone remaining in the building.
A resident on St Georges Bay Rd told the Herald the fire appeared to have occurred at a backpackers’ hostel.
The scene of the Parnell fire, which has since been contained by Fenz crews. Photo / Wilhelmina Shrimpton
A fire at a backpackers' hostel in Parnell this afternoon. Photo / Frank Mair
“It is absolute chaos here. There is thick smoke all over the street ... we went outside but were told to go back in because we couldn’t breathe,” they said.
The resident said they saw people fighting outside the address that was on fire and one person was arrested.
Police said there was a report of a disorder incident at the address and confirmed one person was taken into custody. The person was later released without being charged.
“A scene guard will be in place at the scene overnight until a fire investigator can attend and make inquiries to determine the cause of the fire,” police said.
Fenz personnel attend to the fire at City Garden Lodge in Parnell. Photo / Frank Mair
Another witness said they were walking up the street and saw “massive amounts of fire” pouring through the house.
“There was lots of smoke, and the fire just kept getting bigger and bigger.”
The witness said they saw police take one person away from the scene.
A reporter at the scene said they were standing on Saint Georges Bay Rd and could see flames “shooting right up past the chimney and rooftop” of a house.
“[There is] a massive plume of smoke streaming right across the main street through Parnell.”
She said there were a significant amount of emergency vehicles in attendance, blocking off Saint Georges Bay Rd.
“I haven’t seen flames that big in the central city before.”
Three people were seen covered in blood and screaming at each other at the boarding house after a man living above a couple with a baby was allegedly stabbed.
Another young man, in his 20s, was taken from the boarding house bloodied due to a stab wound to his back. He was taken to Auckland Hospital with serious injuries.
Three ambulances and nine police cars attended the scene. A police dog team and the Eagle helicopter were also involved in the manhunt.
The manager of City Garden Lodge at the time, Raj Chatly, confirmed it was a stabbing which was the result of a dispute between two tenants.
Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.
