Houses on both sides of the blaze site were immediately evacuated and emergency crews brought fire hoses through the neighbouring properties in order to reach the flames.
One man living at a property next door told the Herald he had been out shopping “for just 10 minutes” when his son called him and said the complex next door was on fire.
A large fire has broken out at an apartment building on Hain Ave in Māngere, Auckland that was still under construction. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Another man said he’d seen smoke rising into the sky from the under-construction complex at around 12:30pm and dashed out of his house onto the road, where other neighbours had begun gathering.
He wasn’t sure when residents would be allowed to re-enter their homes.
One woman had taken her dog for a walk in her pyjamas, only to return at lunchtime and be told that she couldn’t re-enter her home.
Fire crews responded to the blaze in Māngere, Auckland. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Fire crews had the blaze contained by 2pm.
A spokesman said 11 fire appliances were scrambled to the scene. No injuries were reported, he said.
Fire investigators were on site just before 2pm, he said.
Around 3pm, people residing in homes to the left of the blaze were allowed to re-enter.
By 3.30pm, four fire trucks remained at the scene while police were making inquiries.
A Harcourts agent involved in the sale of the new units told the Herald he was not aware of the fire until contacted.
A fire investigator at the scene said they wouldn’t be able to conclude what had happened until all hot spots were put out and a fire investigation could be completed.
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