The commercial building once used to be the goods shed near the Taihape Railway Station. Photo / Peter Kipling-Arthur
The commercial building once used to be the goods shed near the Taihape Railway Station. Photo / Peter Kipling-Arthur
A historic commercial building in Taihape has been gutted by a large blaze that took hold of it on Thursday morning.
Fire and Emergency was called around 6.20am today to the building near the Taihape railway station near Eagle Street and six fire engines attended to fight the blaze.
FENZspokesman Carlos Dempsey said supporting crews from around the Rangitīkei district were being called in.
Twelve supporting vehicles were called to the scene, including a hazmat vehicle from Palmerston North due to asbestos in the roof of the building.
Dempsey said by mid-day a number of the crews had been released.
Fire crews were called around 6.20am on Thursday. Photo / Bevan Conley
He said the fire was under control but had damaged over 50 per cent of building and the blaze was "deep-rooted" meaning crews would be at the scene for some time to make sure it was safe and the fire was fully extinguished.
"We've got specialist fire investigators on the scene that will begin their investigations when it is safe to do so," Dempsey said.
Taihape Heritage Trust member Peter Kipling-Arthur said the building had been in Taihape since 1906 and, although it was not listed as a heritage building, it is very historic to the people of Taihape.
He said it is believed to be the old engine shed for Taihape's railway station and was later turned into the goods shed.
He believes it has been used to store wool bales in recent years.
In a Facebook post Kipling-Arthur said it was "a loss of a bit of Taihape and NZ history".
