A large fire in a South Auckland factory was fuelled by highly flammable polystyrene which became like “liquid petrol running everywhere”.
Firefighters are dampening down hotspots after an industrial fire in South Auckland which sent large plumes of black smoke into the air.
About 15 crews and fire trucks from 10 stations rushed to the Styrobeck Polystyrene factory on Roscommon Road, Wiri after they were alerted to the fire at 9.24am.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand advised people in the area to avoid exposure to the smoke by shutting doors and windows, turning off air conditioning and staying indoors where possible.
Fire and Emergency area commander Dave McKeown said the agency was called to a fire at about 9.30am in a warehouse that houses polystyrene.
“On arrival, the crews have found the building well ablaze,” McKeown said, “so we’ve prioritised protecting the neighbouring buildings.”
No personnel were put inside the building, but four high-reach ladders were used to surround the building and eventually extinguish the fire.
At 11.20am, a Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said the fire was contained and smoke was reducing.
“But the advice to avoid exposure is still the same.”
McKeown said the factory was used for recycling and manufacturing polystyrene, a material which helped to feed the fire.
“The building that was on fire was largely just warehouse polystyrene, which is ... very flammable.
“When polystyrene gets hot, it melts and basically becomes a flammable liquid, so it’s like liquid petrol running everywhere.”
Earlier, Fire and Emergency said: “A large plume of smoke is drifting over parts of South Auckland.”
Roscommon Road was closed.
A motorist in the area at the time said traffic was backed up on streets around the fire with police diverting traffic back on to the motorway where possible.
Police said cordons were in place at the intersections with Wiri Station Road and Cavendish Drive.
“Fire and Emergency NZ continue to respond to the fire. Motorists should take alternative routes wherever possible and expect delays.”
Auckland Transport said no bus or train services are being impacted by the fire.
Witness John Day said he saw about eight fire engines rushing to the fire.
In video sent to the Herald, smoke pouring out of industrial building is seen filling up the sky while flames shoot out the side.
Parts of the building were seen falling to the ground as the blaze grew in the building.
Fire and Emergency’s McKeown said the building had collapsed in on itself dure to the intensity of the fire.
Several businesses neighbour the site of the fire, including a Z service station.
A staffer at another nearby business said: “No comment at this stage – everyone’s rushing around”.
More to come ...