Auckland's SkyCity Convention Centre fire: Firefighter in serious condition as building goes up in flames

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

A major fire at Auckland's SkyCity Convention Centre cast a think pall of smoke over central Auckland.

Fire crews will battle through the night to contain a massive fire which has engulfed the SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland, Fire and Emergency NZ said.

The fire service said there was no way to put out the blaze from the roof of the seven-storey building as it could not withstand the weight of the firefighters needed to tackle it.

More than 100 firefighters have been struggling to contain the blaze and gale-force winds were forecast to cause more problems later.

A bird's eye view of the SkyCity Convention Centre construction site shows orange flames licking at the roof.

One firefighter was taken to hospital after suffering a medical event at the scene and three other people were treated at the scene as a result of the blaze, which broke out at about 1pm.

* Auckland fire causes gridlock

* Pictures show firefighters battling huge CBD blaze

* Auckland SkyCity Convention Centre new build: What we know

Firefighters guide a hose onto the fire at the SkyCity Convention Centre.

* First look: inside NZ's largest convention centre construction in Auckland

An aerial fire engine from Hamilton has come up to help tackle the large fire.

* SkyCity fire: Shares drop

* Construction site has seen big delays**

The whole SkyCity complex was evacuated in the afternoon as black smoke could be seen climbing into the Auckland skyline and people were told to stay out of the CBD.

Workers claimed the fire started when an unattended blow torch ignited flammable material on the roof.

SkyCity Convention Centre blaze - fire service fighting rooftop blaze

Area commander Geoff Purcell, of Fire and Emergency NZ, said fire crews were trying to 'contain the blaze' and stop it spreading.

He said the fire was located on the roof, which was made up of two layers of straw-like material sandwiched between the waterproof roof and plywood ceiling.

Firefighters were fighting the fire from an aerial unit, known as a 'snorkel', which resembled a cherry picker, he said.

They were also trying to protect a crane on top of the building, which threatened to topple over and fall across the road if it got too hot.

A view of the SkyCity fire from Takapuna.

Firefighters were also inside the building on level 5 attacking the blaze with hoses, nine metres below.

Purcell described the fire as 'unprecedented'. There hadn't been many like it in his 36 year career as a firefighter, he said.

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust pilot Norman McDonald on board Westpac 2 with the smoke billowing from SkyCity below.

Earlier in the day the fire service had believed that one person was missing, but the fire service later said that 'all persons had been accounted for'.

Pedestrians wear masks to protect themselves from the smoke.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff described the fire as 'pretty frightening', with flames rising from gas cylinders.

Goff admitted he was concerned for the wider implications the fire would have on the city looking into the future.

The SkyCity Convention Fire can be seen from outside the CBD's limits.

'The concern is that the convention centre will be a major asset for Auckland and this will inevitably push back the opening.'

Firefighters worked in thick smoke outside the SkyCity convention centre, which is involved in a multi-storeys blaze.

Timelapse captures progression of the fire from the roof of Auckland's SkyCity Convention City. Assistant area commander Dave Woon said the fire is extremely challenging and firefighters are not on top of it.

A fire warden outside SkyCity was advising members of the public the lingering smoke was 'toxic'. Woon later clarified that all smoke was toxic.

Police were establishing cordons and people were amassing to watch in stunned silence.

A spokesperson for Fire and Emergency New Zealand said hundreds of calls had been received about the fire at 1.10pm.

'People are advised to stay out of the CBD area,' they said.

A construction worker said police had closed down nearby roads, including busy Hobson St.

'There are masses of black smoke coming out the top of the building.'

There were about 400 employees on site when the fire started on the roof, a worker said.

Workers had been using 'a torch, like a blow torch' to heat and seal waterproofing material, which had started the fire, he added.

Electrician Lindsay Rowlands was working on the floor below where the fire erupted.

He said it was understood the fire started when a torch was being used on a rubber waterproofing membrane when it caught fire.

No one was injured or trapped when the fire started, he said.

Smoke is filling central Auckland with the SkyCity Convention Centre on fire.

'It (the evacuation) was very well organised. But everyone moved pretty quickly.'

Judging by the volume of smoke the damage inside would be extensive, he said.

The damage would be even worse if it rained overnight and the nearby finished building became waterlogged, he said.

Craig, who would only give his first name, said he was installing a building management unit on the roof when the fire started.

He also understood the rubber roofing layer had caught fire while being applied.

The application process involved setting the rubber on fire briefly while it was being rolled, he said.

'The trick is not to let it catch fire for too long.'

A crane operator nearby hit the alarm first and people fled the nearby finished building quickly, he said.

'It was a really good evacuation.'

'When I got to the first floor people didn't even know there was a fire.'

A spokeswoman for SkyCity said everyone had been evacuated and no one had been injured.

St John said multiple units were attending the fire but they had not treated anyone yet.

A command unit, rapid response vehicle, four managers and one ambulance were at the scene.

Sam Veamoi, 19, said he was at a business across the road when he saw masses of smoke and huge flames shoot from the upper stories of the half finished buildings.

'I've never seen anything like it,' the student said.

'I just hope no one is hurt.'

Kerrie-Lee Magill, who could see the blaze from her hotel room, said firefighters were sending ladders up towards the fire.

Thick, black smoke continued to billow from the construction site.

Hobson St was shut, she said, and construction workers had evacuated.

Auckland Transport spokeswoman Natalie Polley said Nelson St was closed from Wellesley St West to Victoria St West.

'People should follow detours from emergency services. There will be delays to services.'

Auckland Transport would provide updates as they came to hand, she said.

NZTA was also advising people to delay their trips into the city as there were multiple road closures and heavy traffic.

Police said they were helping Fire and Emergency NZ with cordons and evacuations of workers in the immediate area.

Police are urging motorists to avoid the Auckland CBD area and members of the public are advised to stay away from the cordons.

Construction workers are assisting police direct traffic at the intersection of Hobson St and Wellesley St. Hundreds of construction workers and tradespeople are on the footpaths around the convention centre.

Winds in Auckland are set to gradually increase to gusts of up to 90kmh by 8am Wednesday.

Metservice has a strong wind watch in place for the region on Wednesday.

Meteorologist Tui McInnes said a south westerly wind was currently lashing the city, with gusts between 60kmh and 70kmh.