Frying pan cause of evacuation at Auckland International Airport

Auckland International Airport duty free area. Photo / File

A smokey frying pan may have triggered the evacuation of the international terminal at Auckland airport this evening.

The international terminal at Auckland Airport was evacuated - after a sprinkler went off at Burger King around 7:15pm.

Fire Service spokesman Jaren Philipps said a frying pan at the takeaway outlet was believed to be the cause of the alarm, located at the international terminal building on the first floor pier and extension.

He said a fire investigator was still examining the scene for an exact cause.

Shortly before eight people were allowed back into the airport terminal and boarding of flights commenced not long after.

Phillips said three fire crews attended the initial callout, but because of the flooding, on level one and two of the terminal, two more teams were sent.

An airport spokesperson confirmed an evacuation was underway, not long after the alarm went off.

But he was also unclear as to what had set it off.

Later in the evening he confirmed there was unlikely to be any major delays to flight as a result of the evacuation.

The airport website indicated the evacuation had been of the airside departures and arrivals area.

Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines for flight information.