Workers face uncertainty after Reporoa sawmill gutted by fire

Ten sawmill workers are in limbo after their workplace was gutted by an overnight fire near Reporoa.

Three fire appliances remained at the scene this morningat Vanner Mill on Mangamingi Rd.

At most, the fire area was 400sq m and 10 crews from Rotorua and Taupo fought it after the first emergency call at 8.30pm yesterday.

Employees look on at the remains of Vanner Mill. Photo / Stephen Parker

It took two hours for crews to get the blaze under control and begin dampening down hotspots, with one crew remaining on watch overnight.

The mill owner, who did not want to be named, saw the fire from his house next door and immediately ran to the scene.

He said all of the machinery and the main part of the mill was destroyed and nothing in the burnt areas was salvageable.

When asked if the mill was insured the owner said he would "rather not answer that".

He said the mill employed 10 permanent staff.

"I have not met with them yet but I have told them to stay home until Monday at this stage."

Fire and Emergency New Zealand reach hotspots at Vanner Mill. Photo/Stephen Parker

The owner said the mill's fire response systems, and health and safety procedures were up to scratch.

"We have a pretty stringent set-up. The fire went up too quickly for our facilities to stop it though."

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said there was no obvious cause of the blaze at this stage.

An investigator was at the scene last nightand returned this morning.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand crew member navigates the remains of Vanner Mill. Photo / Stephen Parker

Taupo assistant area commander Richard Anastasi said when the first responders arrived from Taupo the main building was "almost totally involved in fire".

He it was a "tragedy" for the workers.

Anastasi said because the mill was rural, there was no reticulated water system at the site.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand reach hotspots at Vanner Mill. Photo / Stephen Parker

"We had to shuttle water from the nearest hydrant which was 20 minutes away, so we used four water trucks for that."

Anastasi said the priority was to save a few smaller structures around the main building, which the crews managed to do.

He said the investigator had not found anything suspicious at the scene.

"It was more than likely accidental."