Fire in New World supermarket in Auckland’s Victoria Park extinguished
A fire at a central Auckland supermarket under renovation is finally extinguished after 10 hours, but firefighters will remain overnight to deal with any hotspots.
The first fire alarm sounded at New World Victoria Park at 11.18am, as terrified shoppers abandoned their trolleys and fled to safety.
The fire forced nearby residents, businesses and a school to shelter inside as thick, black smoke streamed across neighbouring suburbs. The fire’s cause is unknown.
More than 80 firefighters from 20 fire appliances were called to help battle the fifth alarm level fire, including an aerial unit from Hamilton to assist three aerial units already in use.
“On arrival there was a large fire, well-developed in the mezzanine floor and upper level of the roof, which has made it very difficult for firefighting”, Fire and Emergency NZ incident controller Vaughan Mackereth said just after 2pm.
Everyone inside at the time of the fire was safe and accounted for, Mackereth said.
STORY CONTINUES AFTER LIVE BLOG
Blog coverage ends
Lynley Ward
Thank you for following today's live blog coverage of the fire.
The blog is now closing for the evening.
New World Victoria Park works to get store back on its feet
Lynley Ward
New World Victoria Park is praising the work of everyone involved in today's devastating fire.
“We want to thank our team and customers for their response following the fire that broke out in store earlier today,” a post on the store's Facebook page said.
The store also reserved special praise for the quick work done by Fire and Emergency New Zealand to contain the fire.
“Right now, our focus is on supporting our people and the emergency response, including assessing damage to the store once it’s safe to do so.
“It’s early days and we’re still working through what it will take to get the store back on its feet for customers."
Traffic gridlock in central Auckland after roads shut by fire
Lynley Ward
Traffic is snarled around central Auckland as people make their way home this evening.
Those heading out of main streets say traffic is bumper to bumper with vehicles hardly moving.
Smoke continues to waft across central Auckland
Lynley Ward
Future plans up in air after supermarket extensively damaged
Lynley Ward
The badly-damaged grocery store was considered an important location to the Foodstuffs supermarket chain.
"It's a very important location to us.
" I don't really know what the plan to get back to trading will be yet," said Quin.
"The first thing is we can't get safe access to the building till fire and emergency give that to us. Secondly, obviously a lot of water, a lot of smoke, a lot of carcinogens have gone through the building.
"It's probably extensively damaged."
"There's been an extensive refurbishment of the store to bring a fantastic new look and feel to this community. We want to get back to being able to do that as fast as we can."
Quin described hearing word of the fire was "a shock".
"You hear that there's a fire at a store, you start hoping it's a very small thing that's been handled. This clearly wasn't."
Stranded cars parked beneath burning building reunited with owners
Lynley Ward
Those who left cars in the carpark beneath the burning store had started being reunited with their stranded vehicles.
"Cars have been moved out as it's been safe. I think we're nearly there in terms of reuniting people with their cars," Quin said.
While there might be smoke around but at this stage they haven't had any reports of damage to cars.
Area where store fire started pinpointed but cause still to be found
Lynley Ward
Quin said they know the area in which the fire started, but didn't know the cause of blaze at this stage.
"It seems like it's been a pretty significant event, based on watching it unfold during the day and the fact that it took several hours, but we don't have any accurate assessment at this point."
They needed to wait for the fire service to make the building safe to start entering and inspecting.
The value of stock loss was still unknown at this time with the owners still waiting on an accurate report of the damage.
Store extensively refurbished before fire , determined to get shop back in shape
Lynley Ward
Quin said today the world of the store's managers had changed dramatically this morning.
"It's obviously been an incredibly challenging day here today for the team and for everyone around associated with this event.
"Firstly, I want to say how grateful we are that everybody is safe, the team, the customers, all of the builders that were on site, and incredibly proud of our store team who did an incredible job of calmly getting everyone safely out of the building while the event was unfolding."
The store was undergoing renovations when fire broke out.
'Significant event' after fire breaks out in area being rebuilt
Lynley Ward
Foodstuff's North Island chief executive Chris Quin says the fire broke out in a part of the store that was currently being rebuilt.
He said was incredibly proud of store team and incredibly grateful for the work of firefighters today.
He described the fire as a "significant event" as he watched it unfold across the afternoon.
"It's a significant event, there's a lot we don't know yet about the future, but we're just so glad right now people are safe."
Firefighters to stay extinguishing blaze overnight, stay inside alerts lift
Lynley Ward
Firefighters are finally able to access the interior of the burning New World Victoria Park fire.
Fire Service controller Shaun Thornton said the fire was now contained and operations would continue overnight to extinguish it.
"Crews have been able to access inside the building, which has helped us get the fire contained," he said.
There were 15 trucks and support vehicles at the scene. Two of those were aerial trucks, with the Hamilton aerial now returning to its station in the Waikato.
The smoke had reduced considerably, and the Stay Inside Emergency Mobile Alert had been lifted.
"Road closures remain in place, please continue to avoid the area," said Thornton.
"We are making progress removing cars from the carpark.
"If customers have a car in the New World carpark they are advised to see the Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel at the cordon at the bottom end of Franklin Rd who are coordinating the retrieval of vehicles."
Supermarket fire now contained but not out
Lynley Ward
Fire and Emergency says the fire is now contained but not yet extinguished.
A spokesperson said firefighters were now scaling back the response but operations would continue overnight.
"Crews are now able to access inside the building to continue to extinguish the fire," said the spokesperson.
Extent of damage starting to be revealed as smoke eases
Lynley Ward
Bar tab opened at nearby tavern for staff after fire
Lynley Ward
Frazzled staff gathered in a local bar to ease nerves and debrief after the fire broke out at the New World Victoria Park this morning.
A worker at the neighbouring Birdcage Tavern said around 200 supermarket staff and contractors ended up in the pub having lunch.
"They were very stressed at first, but once they had some food and drink, they calmed down," he told the Herald.
He said a tab was created and someone planned to come in later and pay it off.
Auckland Central MP asks people to avoid fire scene
Lynley Ward
Earlier, Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick told Herald NOW’s Michael Morrah the most important message for residents was to avoid the area.
“[And] for folks to keep their windows closed if they are living or working near there,” she said.
“I know our firefighters are doing an incredible job, the best they can with everything they have got.”
Swarbrick said she was hearing concerns from multiple businesses in the surrounding areas about the kind of flow-on effects it would have for them.
“I am hearing questions about what happened here and the best response for people now is not to speculate before we have all the facts on the table,” she said.
Parents of nearby school 'initially concerned'
Benjamin Plummer
One concerned mother from Freemans Bay School said she was ready to rush down to the school and collect her kid when she received the warning message about the fire.
She said the school had advised parents and caregivers to pick up their children slightly early to help with traffic congestion amid the road closures.
One father said he was initially concerned because he saw the smoke from his house on the hill this afternoon.
Crews to remain at fire scene overnight
Benjamin Plummer
Mackereth said about 20 appliances were in attendance, with further assistance on the way.
Three aerial units from Auckland were already at the scene and a fourth was on its way from Hamilton.
"Crews are expected to be here this afternoon and overnight," he said.
Mackereth encouraged people to avoid the area and nearby residents to close their windows.
Fire raised to fifth alarm, evacuations unlikely
Benjamin Plummer
The complexity of the fire was its location in the mezzanine and roof area.
"It's just getting access to it [that is difficult]."
It was "hard to say at this stage" how long it would take for the fire to be brought under control, Mackereth said.
There were already 20 trucks at the site under a fourth alarm, he said.
"I've just increased it to a fifth alarm, that's just about staff rotation."
Asked if there was any chance of evacuations tonight, Mackereth said, "I would think not".
Fire still 'not under control', incident controller says
Benjamin Plummer
At a press conference shortly after 2pm, Fire and Emergency NZ incident controller Vaughan Mackereth told media the Victoria Park fire was "not under control".
The fire started in the mezzanine and roof space, but it was too soon to know how it was caused. More fire reinforcements were coming, including another aerial unit from Hamilton.
Mackereth was unsure when vehicles in the underground carpark would be able to be retrieved.
He couldn't say if this would be today or not.
"We're working with [car] owners."
Additional fire trucks sent to scene of blaze
Bradley Church
Additional fire trucks are responding to the New World supermarket blaze, which is still not contained.
Police handing out evidence bags, collecting keys
Bradley Church
Police are handing out plastic evidence bags for New World supermarket workers and collecting car keys. There is a carpark on the ground floor of the supermarket complex and the cars of many workers and shoppers are still trapped there.
Bradley Church
Pupils being kept inside classrooms at Freemans Bay School
Bradley Church
At Freemans Bay School a few hundred metres south of the supermarket, almost 600 pupils are being kept inside.
Children on their morning tea break had alerted the school to the fire, after smelling smoke and telling a teacher, who then told her, deputy principal Helen Armstrong said.
"We saw a plume of smoke ... we took [the children] inside and closed the windows."
Pupils are now being kept in their classrooms - under supervision - during the school's lunch break, which began at 1pm, Armstrong said.
"The kids were a little excitable. We told them everybody was safe, the [emergency services] were there, and there was nothing to worry about."
She didn't know if any pupils' parents worked at the New World, but thought it was likely.
They were keeping their school community informed via the school app, but had also received phone calls from several parents, she said.
Firefighters battle Auckland supermarket blaze
Scott Palmer
Thick black smoke is engulfing Auckland city after a fire broke out at the New World supermarket opposite Victoria Park this morning.
Frightened shoppers were forced to evacuate, leaving behind their trolleys, when an alarm sounded.
Fire and Emergency NZ issued a cellphone alert, advising residents to close all windows and doors as the smoke travelled southwest across the city.
The fire, which started at around 11.20am, is still not under control and can be seen from as far away as Albany.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
In an update shortly before 5pm, Fire and Emergency said the fire had been contained but was not extinguished.
“Crews are now able to access inside the building to continue to extinguish the fire,” said the spokesperson.
This was followed by an update around 9pm stating the fire had now been extinguished.
“Firefighters will remain there overnight to deal with any hotspots and ensure the perimeter of the site is secure,” said Fire and Emergency Senior Station Officer Mark Neville.
“Currently there are nine crews still at the site and this will reduce to five.
“Fire and Emergency expects to hand the building back to the property owners in the morning.”
Smoke rises above Auckland
Fire and Emergency NZ this afternoon issued a cellphone alert warning of the fire and saying smoke is travelling southwest across the city.
“Close all windows and doors and await further instructions.”
Nearby Freemans Bay School pupils were already being kept inside after alerting teachers during morning playtime to the fire, which could be seen as far away as Albany.
“We saw a plume of smoke ... we took [the children] inside and closed the windows,” deputy principal Helen Armstrong said.
“The kids were a little excitable. We told them everybody was safe, the [emergency services] were there, and there was nothing to worry about.”
Roads at the bottom of College Hill were closed, and staff and shoppers unable to retrieve vehicles from the supermarket’s underground carpark.
Witnesses describe fire spreading
Those inside the supermarket described dramatic scenes when the fire began.
“The smoke filled the entire store,” one checkout operator said of the moment the emergency began.
Three young workers said they didn’t even hear the alarm, the fire happened so quickly.
They saw “huge bright flames”, they told the Herald.
Evacuated workers retreated to the nearby Birdcage Tavern for food.
A shopper said it was “terrifying”.
“I had to leave all my shopping and I’m really concerned about the basement and all the cars.”
Another shopper said on Reddit: “Was just doing a regular shop at New World today when the fire alarm went off. Like most people, I figured it was just a drill or maybe a false alarm.
“But within seconds, it was clear it wasn’t. Huge credit to the New World staff, they moved quickly and calmly, creating a real sense of urgency without any panic.
“They got everyone out fast and safely, which can’t be easy in a supermarket. Really hope everything’s okay and there’s no serious damage.
“Just one of those moments that reminds you how important good training and a cool head are.”
Early this afternoon, the supermarket’s exterior could be seen bubbling, blistering and peeling as firefighters tackled the blaze.
The public should stay away from the immediate area, acting police Inspector Ian Scoulding said.
“We would also ask residents in the nearby area to close their windows.”
Mayor Wayne Brown also advised people to avoid the area.
Savory Construction has been working on renovations at the site.
Its managing director Daniel Clark said all their workers were safe.
“Everyone’s out, everyone’s accounted for.“
Clark didn’t want to comment further.
The company which owns New World Victoria Park is called First in Food Ltd. The sole director and shareholder is Stephen Purton.
A Hato Hone St John Ambulance spokesman said they’d sent two rapid response vehicles to the scene to be “on standby”. No ambulances had been sent, he said.