A large fire at a scrap metal dealer is sending smoke across Auckland.
Firefighters have been toiling through the night to contain a massive scrap-metal blaze in South Auckland, now raging into its second day.
A 12m-high pile of 1600 tonnes of scrap metal, including old car parts, roofing and tyres, covering a 100m by 70m area, is burning at Sims PacificMetals on James Fletcher Drive in Favona.
The fire was reported about 2am yesterday and at its peak the fire had flames "as high as warehouses".
Smoke could be seen for miles. Photo / Brett Phibbs
A Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said this morning the fire had been contained.
Due to the current closure of James Fletcher Dr bus route 324 is currently diverted via Savill Dr. Please expect delays to other bus services in the area. ^NW https://t.co/fw04p6Fhxc
There have been two fires in the past 10 months and three in the past 11 years at Sims Pacific Metals.
In May 21 last year, 12 fire engines and two aerial appliances attended a large fire at the site that began in a 10m by 10m area at the top of the three-storey building, where metal was crushed and shredded.
More than 80 firefighters and 20 fire trucks tackled the blaze that has burned for more than 24 hours. Photo / Brett Phibbs
In 2007 another blaze at the site was thought to have been started by exploding aerosol cans.
Sims Pacific Metals told Newstalk ZB yesterday it wouldn't comment about the inferno.
The Companies Office lists one New Zealand director, Hamish McBeath, and three Australian directors for Sims Pacific Metals Limited.
