A guest who was having breakfast in the restaurant of a luxury golf course when a fire broke out has described the “incredibly sad” scene that unfolded as the blaze spread through the building.
In an Instagram post, the diner said it was “so incredibly sad to see Ric’s restaurant go up at Te Arai this morning while getting breakfast”.
The fire tore through Ric’s Restaurant yesterday, destroying the casual dining venue.
Speaking to the Herald the diner said she was told the blaze began after “a greenskeeper’s vehicle caught fire out the back near a wooden fence”.
The Herald understands the greenskeeper’s vehicle is a battery-powered utility golf cart built for heavy-duty work. Te Arai Links said the fire originated in the rear of the building but could not comment further on the cause.
“A formal investigation is currently underway, and we will await its findings before providing any further detail.”
Te Arai Links said Ric’s Restaurant was built in line with all fire compliance requirements and had been fully compliant at the time of the fire.
Another guest told the diner staff had tried to put the fire out themselves using fire extinguishers, but were unsuccessful.
The diner was one of about 20 people in the restaurant who were evacuated just before 10am, first to a carpark and later to Oceans restaurant.
“We just watched it get worse and worse as it spread to the building.”
The diner said the plumes changed from black smoke to grey and then “bright orange flames” as the fire took hold of the building. The smell was described as being very acrid.
“It smelled electrical rather than that black, smoky smell.”
The source said staff were “really amazing” throughout the whole process, acting swiftly to raise the alarm, ensure gas supplies were turned off, and vehicles were moved away from the unfolding emergency.
“I just felt so sorry for them.
“Many of the staff at Ric’s live on site, so they were watching this happen to their home as well as their workplace.”
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were alerted to the blaze at the luxury golf course north of Auckland at 10.08am. Flames were seen burning through the large building’s roof.
Te Arai Links said yesterday had been a “very emotional day” for everyone at the venue, and it was thankful nobody was injured.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the fire brigade for their rapid response,” a post on the course’s social media accounts read.
“Ric’s is more than a restaurant - it’s the heartbeat of Te Arai Links. It’s where our team and our guests come together, and where so many moments have been created.”
Ric’s was one of six hospitality outlets on the golf resort. It offered laid-back dining with wood-fired pizzas and drinks. The restaurant opened on to a 2.5-acre putting green dubbed The Playground.
Te Arai Links opened in 2022 and has two courses ranked in the top 100 globally. The golf course has hosted some of the best players in the world, including Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy.