'We were very lucky it wasn't worse', says neighbour of burned down Bulls building

The remains of an industrial building after a fire on Watson Street, Bulls. Photo / Lewis Gardner.

Garry Howes got the fright of his life early on Saturday morning when he got a wake-up call from Bulls firefighters.

They said the building next to his GJH Fibreglass business on Watson St was on fire and they needed to get into his worksite to try to stop it from spreading.

But Howes was away for the weekend in Hawke's Bay and had to quickly call one of his workers in Bulls to open it up for them.

Emergency services had been alerted to the fire in the building, which housed Rangitīkei Steel-Craft Co, just before 3.30am.

Crews from Bulls and Marton responded first, with the building fully on fire on arrival.

Garry Howes business, GJH Fibreglass, is the immediate building to the right of the burned down structure.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Mike Wanoa said they raised the alarm response, with eight crews on the scene at its height.

Crews extinguished the majority of the fire by 4.30am, with firefighters staying behind to dampen down hot spots.

No one was injured in the fire.

When Howes was able to inspect his building he found along the side where the fire was windows were cracked, downpipes melted and rubber cables melted on to the building.

"We were very lucky it wasn't worse," Howes said, praising the efforts of the firefighters.

He has since been inside and checked there was no interior damage to his business. They will be able to come in and work on Monday morning.

Howes said he believed the neighbouring sit was empty and the business that was there had moved out a week earlier.

Fire investigators were on site on Saturday, with a cause yet to be determined.